Background The high- grade systemic inflammation, reduced physical activity, chronic use of glucocorticosteroids (GS) and potentially other factors predispose patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to higher risk of diabetes (DM).

Objectives To determine the prevalence of DM in patients with RA treated in the Institute of Rheumatology in Warsaw and to determine the risk factors for diabetes like age, gender, disease activity, duration of RA, serum 25(OH)D-deficiency and use of GS.

Methods The study was performed in the group of 352 RA patients (300 F, 52 M, age 57,2±14SD, a mean duration of RA was 10,62±10SD years). Clinical records were obtained and laboratory measurements were performed in the Institute of Rheumatology in Warsaw, Poland in years 2008 -2011.

Results In the studied group we detected 48 (13,63%) patients with diabetes: 76% with type 2 DM, 9,5% with type 1 DM and in 14% patients with DM we found associacion with GS treatment. DM type 2 was diagnosed at 4,52±4 years after diagnosis of RA and greater incidence was found in men. In the studied group, DM type 1 precedes RA for about 12,13±5 years. In 65% of RA DM patients we detected characteristic features of pseudoscleroderma and 45% patients suffered from adhesive capsulitis of shoulder. We did not find any association with the incidence of DM and vitamin D deficiency. Higher levels (>7%) of glycatedhaemoglobin (HbA1c) indicated difficulties in proper control of DM in 55% of RA DM patients.

Conclusions The prevalence of DM in RA patients is higher (2x) as compared with an averege incidence of DM in the adult population in Poland (6,5%). Based of our data we suggest regular screening for DM among patients with RA.

Disclosure of Interest None Declared