[DeusXM]

Anyone know if there's a correllation between having diabetes and developing thyroid problems? I've seen some sites that suggest it, but most resources don't appear to make such a connection.

[am1977]

Deus, I believe there is. I have even asked my endo. aout this and he has said that there is a correlation. He told me people with diabetes, particularly women, tend to have thyroid issues as well.

[Harold]

Found this under Hypothyroidism

Thyroid hormones regulate the body's energy. When levels of thyroid hormones are abnormally low, the body burns energy more slowly,

So it would seem that it may contribute to developing Type 2 diabetes. I've heard some people with thyroid problems claiming that the meds they were put on caused their diabetes. Maybe a case of hperthyroidism taking too much medication or for too long. Yet others are unclear which came first.

[lilly]

when i was dx'ed,my doctor asked me if there was anybody in the family with thyroid disorders as he said the 2 conditions can go together.My mother and grandmother has hyperthyroidism,i got diabetes.Theres many people on my other forum that has both conditions and by looking around online,most sites are of the opinion that both conditions are related.This is a NZ site that has info on the 2 conditions.
http://www.diabetes.org.nz/thyroid.html

[Teresa]

yea, i think there is... ive noticed from my blood test forms the docs always seem to test my thyroid so i figured they must be related

[Dewey]

Deus,

I was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes in 1982, and was later diagnosed in 1996 with Hypothyroidism. I truly believe there is a correlation, and my doctor stated that there is (or can be) a connection. However, results may vary depending on the patient.

An question...has anyone been put on ace inhibitors (such as Mavik or a low dose BP med.) to reduce chances of future kidney complications? Just curious...

[Katjic]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism two years after being diagnosed with diabetes.
All of my doctors said "that's nothing unusual"..

[gettingby]

Deus, I believe there is a connection. the only difference with me is diabetes came in 1984, hypothyroidism in 2003. I go back to the Dr. in July. I'll ask his opinion.
Cin

[SunniD]

Deus I also believe there is a connection. There is a Statistic for how many diabetics come down with hypothyroidism but I don't know it offhand but I remember it being fairly high.

I believe in Chinese?? philosophy that the thyroid and pancreas are sister organs and when one is not operating fully it puts more strain on the other organ so that always provided me with a sufficient explanation of why so many diabetics have problems with thyroid.<smile>

Also wanted to mention that the bgs were extremely hard to control when I wasn't being given enough thyroid medication.
Don't know if anyone else has noticed this but I did for sure.

SunniD

[SunniD]

Forgot to mention that my pharmacist and I also checked out
and found that coffee (decaf and reg) interfere with thyroid meds and can cause systolic bps to increase by as much as 20 in me.
Thought this was an interesting fact to know if you are on thyroid meds also.

SunniD

[DeusXM]

Hmmm...thanks for your help guys. Not quite what I was expecting (I'm a bit concerned about hyperthyroidism rather than hypo- at the moment), but if so many people with diabetes also have problems with hypothyroidism, it still suggests there's a very strong link.

I think I'd better pay the doc a visit this week.

As if I didn't have enough on my plate as it is.

[lgvincent]

I've also heard that diabetics have a greater tendency of having thyroid problems. I developed grave's disease in 1994. I can remember when they brought in the radioactive iodine for me to take, it was in what looked like a lead box with the radioactive warning signs on it. I couldn't help but laugh but I know people working around it each day need to avoid prolonged exposure. Now as I recall, I glowed green for a few weeks after taking it, and the steering wheel of the car melted while I was gripping it (wasn't a steering wheel I especially liked anyway).

[Shalyndria]

Why the concern Deus?
My mom has Grave's Disease (hyperthyroidism) and my T4 is checked regularily because they do think it's hereditary. Also I've seen studies that suggest a genetic disposition for immune deficiencies.

Just a simple lab test on a venous draw Deusy, no big deal

Shy

[Willow]

I'm type 1 & have just been told I have an overactive thyroid. Now about to start taking Carbimazole Tablets. My doctor said that thyroid conditions are strongly linked to diabetes.

[Lorna]

The doctor checks my thyroid everytime I put on weight, but nothing conclusive yet- in my case at least.