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StandUp2OA – Biweekly 2/3/2023

StandUp Tip

Learn how to launch the National Diabetes Prevention Program as a covered benefit at your workplace, courtesy of Health Links.

In This Issue
  • DEI Efforts of the 140+ Member Organizations of the OAAA
  • Osteoarthritis in the Media
  • Webinars
  • Resources for OA Researchers

Arthritis and Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that alters someone’s life completely. It requires constant monitoring of dietary choices and blood sugar levels, frequent trips to the doctor, and leads to side effects that can damage other parts of the body.

Foot painArthritis and diabetes have a lot in common. According to the Arthritis Foundation, almost half of all adults with diabetes (47%) also have arthritis. In addition, people with arthritis have a 61% higher risk of developing diabetes than those without arthritis. That may not be surprising, considering that the two conditions share a number of common risk factors. Both osteoarthritis (OA) and diabetes disproportionately affect people who are older, overweight, and inactive.

Losing weight through a combination of exercise and diet can improve OA pain and function, as well as improve blood sugar numbers. Excess weight contributes to insulin resistance and puts added strain on joints. Research has shown for every 1 pound of weight loss, there is 4 pounds of relief on your knees. Furthermore, losing just 5 to 10 percent of body weight can significantly reduce blood sugar. Individuals affected by excess weight can visit the OA Action Alliance website for a variety of resources on weight management and physical activity.

When I work, a lot of times I have to lose weight, and I do that, but in my regular life I was not eating right, and I was not getting enough exercise. But by the nature of my diet and that lifestyle – boom! The end result was high blood sugars that reach the levels where it becomes Type 2 diabetes. I share that with a gajillion other people.
–Tom Hanks

DEI Efforts of the 140+ Member Organizations of the OAAA

In each newsletter, we will feature an OAAA member organization’s efforts in the area of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern UniversityA recent Northwestern Medicine study found that Asian Americans, the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group in the United States, cannot be lumped into one uniform group when looking at obesity prevalence. Results showed significant variation in the prevalence of obesity among subgroups of Asian American adults and that health risks in this population may start at a lower BMI than standard BMI definitions of obesity.

Osteoarthritis in the Media

The latest in news, policy, & practice on osteoarthritis

  • The Obesity Society: Country’s leading obesity care organizations develop consensus statement on obesity (1/31/2023)
  • US News: How to find a welcoming gym environment (1/26/2023)
  • Healio: New blood test ‘more accurate’ in identifying and predicting osteoarthritis progression (1/25/2023)
  • CreakyJoints: Has osteoarthritis made your knees unstable? (1/25/2023)
  • The Well: ‘Eat a rainbow’ for better health (1/24/2023)
  • The Joint Action has posted a new podcast on the topic “Digital interventions for osteoarthritis with Dr Andrea Dell’Isola” (1/22/2023)
  • Booming Encore: 5 reasons why you should play pickleball (1/19/2023)
  • The Back Pain Podcast has posted a new podcast on the topic “Empowering Osteopathy With Anisha Joshi” (1/19/2023)
  • Op-Med: When it comes to heart health, don’t overlook lifestyle factors (1/17/2023)
  • A Healthier Michigan: How strength training can help you age gracefully (1/15/2023)
  • Time: 9 ways to squeeze in more steps every day (1/12/2023)
  • Marquette Today: Physical therapy professor receives NIH grant to develop physical activity intervention for people with chronic knee pain (1/9/2023)

Pathways Conference 2023

 

Webinars

2/15 Lunch & Learn

Resources for OA Researchers

Click the button below to access our regularly updated list of Events and Conferences, Funding Opportunities, Webinars, and Announcements related to Osteoarthritis research. Remember to bookmark this website!

Events, Funding, and More

How Are We Doing?
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Thank you!
Do you have something you would like to share with us? Please email us at oaaction@unc.edu so we can promote it!
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The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance (OAAA) is supported, in part, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Thurston Arthritis Research Center (TARC) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the lead agency. Contents are solely the responsibility of the OAAA or TARC. 

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