Synthroid Question for Type 1

CrazyGramma · #1 (**permalink**) 04-26-2008, 06:42 AM

Do we know if thyroid meds have any effect of bg's? Been taking synthroid for about 2 years. Steady increase from .75 to .112. I think I need one more jump as I believe that my tsh should be 2.5 versus 4.5. My daughter is hypothyroid for many years and she feels best with her tsh at the lower end.

gettingby · #2 (**permalink**) 04-26-2008, 10:02 AM

I'm not sure if there is a direct correlation between thyroid meds and bg readings. I do know that if I don't take my Levothyroxine daily, I feel crappy and it makes my A1C look worse. I would think it would affect bgs as both are endocrine disorders.
I've been wrong before and am not ashamed to admit when I am.

Duck is very knowledgable on this stuff so hopefully he will chime in and correct me if I am wrong.

My last lab results showed my TSH to be 1.85uIU/mL on 150 MCG of Levothyroxine. The lab that did my results shows reference range for TSH to be 0.36-2.84 uIU/mL. My free T3 is at the lower end and my free T4 is mid.

duck · #3 (**permalink**) 04-26-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gettingby

I'm not sure if there is a direct correlation between thyroid meds and bg readings. I do know that if I don't take my levothyroxine daily, I feel crappy and it makes my A1C look worse. I would think it would affect bgs as both are endocrine disorders.
I've been wrong before and am not ashamed to admit when I am.

Duck is very knowledgable on this stuff so hopefully he will chime in and correct me if I am wrong.

LOL. There's nothing to "correct", as we're all very different when it comes to thyroid/endocrine issues and how we react to them. I know when I was on a lower dose of Synthroid, I could take it without any reaction as far as blood sugar levels. But when I got bumped up to 175 mcg a few years ago, taking Syntroid in the morning basically triggered a Dawn Phenomenon type of reaction in me.

So, the answer is to test a lot whenever there is any sort of change in your care regimen to see how the change affects you.

Let me add this: I take my thyroid meds by themselves on an empty stomach first thing in the AM before I shower...I am pretty sure if I could manage taking my thyroid meds in the afternoon, when the so-called "insulin resistant" hormones we release when we sleep are gone, the spike in blood sugar would not happen. But I eat so often throughout the day, I'd find it hard to time taking my meds on an empty stomach.

parrotletzoo · #4 (**permalink**) 04-26-2008, 11:46 AM

I take 224mcg of synthroid a day and have never noticed that it effects my blood sugar.

CrazyGramma · #5 (**permalink**) 04-26-2008, 12:23 PM

Thank much,
I must go and look up my last test results as I was sure I was in the hi end of normal for TSH.

I am finding that there are so many factors to examine in my new adventure - getting excellent control. I thank god for the forum. Speaking with everyone is somehow making this adventue so positive.

gettingby · #6 (**permalink**) 04-26-2008, 12:30 PM

Just remember that not all labs agree on the same reference ranges. Your lab may differ from what mine says.

ferzan.lermiogl · #7 (**permalink**) 04-26-2008, 01:20 PM

I am Type 1 and take 150 mcg Levothyroxine. It is usually taken in the morning and on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before eating. It is good to try to take at the same time each day.
Thyroid hormones can affect blood sugar levels. It is suggested to adjust the dose of diabetic medicine once you begin to take levothyroxine. I am on insuline pump and also take Glucophage 2 times a day. I used to take 2X850 mg; when I start to take levothyroxine, the dose of Glucophage was increased to 2X1000 mg.
It is also important to remember that certain medicines may decrease absorption of this drug. Therefore, levothyroxine should be taken 4 hours apart from calcium supplements, iron supplements, aluminum, calcium or magnesium antacids etc. Dietary fiber. soy products, walnuts may decrease absorption of this medication when taken at the same time.
Another important point is that levothyroxine interacts with many drugs (high dose aspirin,antidepresants, etc).
I am sure you may talk all those with your doctors, I wanted to emphasize.

Eddy · #8 (**permalink**) 05-03-2008, 12:51 PM

Disclaimer: I've no first-hand experience, and am no expert.

I don't know the answer to your question. However, T3 and T4 are metabolic regulatory hormones... and glucose is one of the substances involved in metabolism... so it seems plausible that changes in basal metabolism could result in BG effects. That's just speculation on my part, though.

On a semi-related note:

I attended a rather interesting lecture on hypothyroidism. The presenter, Dr. Ron Hunninghake, had an interesting point about what he called "type 2 hypothyroidism": In some people, T4 does not get converted to T3 very well. They respond positively to dessicated porcine thyroid, which contains T3 as well as T4.

duck · #9 (**permalink**) 05-03-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy

Disclaimer: I've no first-hand experience, and am no expert.

I don't know the answer to your question. However, T3 and T4 are metabolic regulatory hormones... and glucose is one of the substances involved in metabolism... so it seems plausible that changes in basal metabolism could result in BG effects. That's just speculation on my part, though.

On a semi-related note:

I attended a rather interesting lecture on hypothyroidism. The presenter, Dr. Ron Hunninghake, had an interesting point about what he called "type 2 hypothyroidism": In some people, T4 does not get converted to T3 very well. They respond positively to dessicated porcine thyroid, which contains T3 as well as T4.

It's nice to read a doctor say that...Most of my docs, when I ask them about T3 uptake and conversion from T4 state that the body does this automatically from T4 intake, so no additional T3 meds are needed.

And then I always ask "And my body is supposed to automatically process ingested sugar as well, right?"

Anyway, there are two T3/T4 combo products on the market: Armour Thyroid and Thyrolar. And then there is a pure T3 medication, Cytomel. If you feel you need additional T3, talk to your doctor to test for Free T3 and T3 Uptake with your next labs.

CrazyGramma · #10 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 07:12 AM

Such excellent info, I will be bringing all this up in my next appt. which is very soon. I am lucky with my endo because he is very near retirement and sees very few patients so we can spend lots of time. Also he lets me experiment as he places a lot of weight on how the patient feels when it comes to thyroid.