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Real members of DiabetesTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

How likely is it that type 2 diabetics can get an autoimmune disease?

A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭
Rocky Face, GA

I know type 1 is autoimmune. I was diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disease, last year. My rheumatologist has me on hydroxychloroquine put me on it recently to stop my immune system from attacking me.

1 day ago
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A DiabetesTeam Member

There is no direct cause/effect between Type 2 (a metabolic disorder) and Auto-Immune diseases, so simply being Type 2 doesn't mean you are more likely to develop some immune disorder

But since Type 2 also causes a low grade chronic inflammatory condition it can leave your immune system a little overworked so some other Beast comes for you, you may not be able to fight it as effectively

No different then as we age we are more prone to dying from a good dose of pnumonia - just not strong enough to fight it off

So not a direct link, more like "years of sustained damage" combined with pressure on the immune system that is dealing with a constant naggy (symptom) of Type 2

Bottom Line - if you can keep you blood sugar near non-diabetic normal, then it Won't cause any complications

1 day ago
DiabetesTeam

That's quite a lot to navigate — managing diabetes alongside an autoimmune condition is genuinely challenging, and it makes sense to want to understand how they connect.

While type 2 diabetes is not itself an autoimmune condition, it is linked to chronic inflammation in the body. This ongoing inflammation can make the Show Full Answer

That's quite a lot to navigate — managing diabetes alongside an autoimmune condition is genuinely challenging, and it makes sense to want to understand how they connect.

While type 2 diabetes is not itself an autoimmune condition, it is linked to chronic inflammation in the body. This ongoing inflammation can make the immune system behave unpredictably, which may raise the chances of developing autoimmune-related conditions over time. There's also an interesting silver lining worth knowing about hydroxychloroquine. Beyond its role in calming the immune system, some research suggests it may have a positive effect on blood sugar and fat (lipid) levels — which could be a helpful bonus for someone managing type 2 diabetes.

That said, it's really important to keep both your rheumatologist and your diabetes care team in the loop so they can monitor how everything is working together. A few things to watch for include:

- Blood sugar fluctuations, since hydroxychloroquine may affect glucose levels
- Any new or worsening symptoms that could signal changes in either condition
- Regular check-ins to review how your medications are interacting Managing two conditions at once is a lot, but staying closely connected with your care team gives the best chance of keeping both well under control.

1 day ago

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