Experiences with elimination of gluten relieving joint pain

[Char-K]

This is slightly off the weight loss topic, but is related.  How many of you have experienced some relief from knee joint pain with elimination of gluten from your diet?

I'm not technically gluten sensitive to my knowledge but I have read that wheat gluten causes inflammation in some people.  I started a weight loss plan in Dec 2013 and I initially elimanted all starchy carbs and sugar from my diet.  (I was type 2 diabetic at the time).  I knew that weight loss would probably reduce the joint pain.  But amazingly before I'd lost very little weight my knee pain was so much less that I began to be able to take brisk walks again after 2 years of barely being able to get around.  It definitely was not enough weight loss to have been the cause of the reduced pain.  

I'm curious as to how many others have had this experience?  Is it the elimination of wheat and/or sugar that caused the relief?  

Char

[arsenalpaul]

Hi Char-K

I can't offer any help, but your posting interests me. I'm a type 2 diabetic and I suffer from Arthritis in both hips. Swimming and walking is sorting out my exercise.

I've recently looked at an article discussing Gluten free nutrition. The chap argues that perhaps,  as you are paying so much attention to your diet and the need to plan ahead to eat gluten free, you are making better food choices and lowering your GL load in your carb intake.

Could this be a reason ?.

Anyway - Can I ask - did eliminating starchy carbs / sugar change your diabetic situation ?. If so, did you follow any diet plan to  achieve this ?.

Well done anyway !!!.

AP

[Char-K]

@arsenalpaul 

Thanks!  Yes, eliminating sugar and starchy carbs reversed my type 2 diabetes completely!  I had been on medications for diabetes for at least 2 years.  Initially I was on Metformin and then also Glipizide.  

In August 2013 my A1c level was 6.9.  By April 2014 with change to diet and weight loss it had dropped to 5.8.  My doctor had taken me off the Glipizide after the A1c started to decrease and in April at 5.8 she said I was now pre-diabetic and she took me off the Metformin.  She told me when I got my A1c down to 5.7 that would be considered normal / non-diabetic. 

On 7/15/14 my lab tests indicated A1c was down to 5.3!  My doctor and I are very happy!  

I have been under the care of a bariatric specialist physician since December 2013.  She had me do 1 month of the HCG program for an initial weight loss boost.  For that month I had no sugar or starchy carbs at all.

I am still checking in with that doctor on a monthly basis and I'm watching portion size.  I still do not eat sugar (I don't want the diabetes to return) and I still eat very little of the starchy carbs.  When I eat them my weight goes up.  Walking is my main exercise but sometimes swimming pool exercise now that it's so hot.  

In addition to the diabetes, I'm also hypo thyroid and have arthritis in both knees.  

I've done some reading that suggests wheat gluten causes joint inflammation.  I hadn't considered it seriously until my knees felt better before I lost much weight.  It made me curious as to whether others have had this experience with eliminating gluten.

Thanks for your reply!

Char

[arsenalpaul]

Hi Char-K

Thanks for your reply.

I'm going to eliminate sugar but eat a portion of starchy carbs with my evening meal (Carb loading for my early morning swim).

I will re-assess in 3 months. If this doesn't improve my Arthritis, I will consider going gluten free.

Thanks

AP

[Char-K]

Good luck Arsenalpaul!