Some RA medications, like steroids and statins, can raise your blood sugar and make you more likely to get diabetes. But other RA drugs may protect against diabetes. They include:
TNF inhibitors: These drugs block an inflammation-causing substance called TNF. TNF may play a role in the onset of diabetes. One study found that people with RA who took this type of medication were 51% less likely to develop diabetes than those who didn't.
Hydroxychloroquine: This malaria medication is also used for RA. It's been shown to lower diabetes risk in people with RA by about 33%.
Abatacept: This treatment is often prescribed after other drugs don't work. It lowers inflammation by preventing certain cells from talking to each other. According to research, abatacept reduces the risk of diabetes by about 50%.