Diabetes-Hypothyroidism Link
Go away. You probably don’t want to bother reading this.
Still here, huh? Well, I just had a doctor’s visit, and I want to record what he told me before I forget it. If you care about the link between diabetes and hypothyroidism, go ahead and read on.
Dr. Lampugnale’s office referred me to an edocrinologist, Dr. Abourizk, who directs St Francis Hospital’s Diabetes Care Center. I was referred because after I was diagnosed with diabetes in May, I was diagnosed as hypothyroid in December; we want to find out if there is some underlying issue causing my endocrine glands to malfunction.
We don’t yet have answers to that question (I have some tests scheduled), but I did learn a bit about the potential link between these diseases. First of all, the type of hypothyroidism I have is what’s known as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, which means that my immune system is creating antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPO). These antibodies are attacking my thyroid gland, gradual causing its destruction. So it sounds as though, barring some medical breakthrough, I will be on thyroid medicine for the rest of my life. I didn’t ask about possibilities of this being reversed. I imagine that with my immune system causing the problem, the most we can do is counteract the effects.
Since my immune system is attacking one endocrine gland, there is an elevated risk that it might be attacking another one, namely my pancreas. Something called GAD (glutamic acid decarboxylase, thanks Google) antibodies can attack the islet cells of the pancreas, decreasing production of insulin.
This would not match my diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, which is a problem in the use of insulin, not in its production. But it’s possible that I’m going through a slow onset of Type 1 diabetes, in which case I will at some point become dependent upon insulin. We’ll know more after two tests I’ll have at the end of the month, one testing for GAD antibodies and another scanning the pancreas itself for unusual growth.
I learned several other things in this visit: Hashimoto’s disease is significantly more common among women than men, and has a strong genetic component. If the immune system is attacking these endocrine glands, the adrenal glands are often in for some rough treatment as well. (The first symptom would be loss of appetite; no problem there.) Finally, I learned some about the relationship between the pituitary gland and the thyroid gland. The pituitary releases thyrotropin, a thyroid-stimulating hormone, also known as TSH. TSH induces the thyroid to create the hormone thyroxine (T4) as well as others. This T4 then inhibits the pituitary’s release of TSH, in a negative feedback loop. The most sensitive check for thyroid functioning is the check for TSH, since a drop of 50% in T4 corresponds to an 800% increase in TSH. The normal TSH range is 0.5 - 4 mIU/L. My reading was 9.75 mIU/L. I don’t have a sense of how bad that is, except that I’m now on the lowest dose of synthetic thyroid hormone generally prescribed. (And that mathematically, if the top of the normal range is eight times the bottom, having a level 2.5 times that of the top of the range might not be that bad.)
It sounds as though hypothyroidism won’t complicate the treatment of my diabetes, but it is likely to make certain of its symptoms worse. It’s going to be harder to lower my blood pressure, although today’s 105/88 reading is encouraging. It may also make it more difficult to lose weight. After losing 45 pounds in six months, I put eight back on in short order. Now I’ve taken three of those back off, but it’s very slow going. And hypothyroidsm may create cholesterol problems, although my cholesterol has been very good. Dr. Abourizk discussed putting me on statins. He’s very gung-ho on statins, and an article about the uses of statins, originaly published in the Hartford Courant with quotes from and a picture of Dr. Abourizk, is prominently displayed in his office. I will have to do more research first.
Still, I really am feeling old! I’m going to need one of those weekly pillboxes. 
February 17th, 2005 at 10:17 am
[…] not getting enough exercise, I guess. The other news has to do with my hypothyroidism. I reported last month that there was concern that the Hashimoto& […]
April 22nd, 2005 at 5:38 pm
I have known that I have Hashimoto’s (hypothyroidism) for a long time now. But just recently I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I was wondering about the link between the two. Being that both are auto immune disorders. And does that put me at risk for more auto immune disorders.
I have known I was hypothyroid since I was twenty-two years old. It was discovered by accident. I was having some knee pain. And the doctor x-rayed my knee and didn’t really see anything. Then she said that i might want to lose some weight. Because weight can casue joint pain. Well I had been over weight pretty much since puberty. And at eighteen gave birth to my first child.
In talking about weight, she felt on my neck. Then she said “well let me check something”. So she sent me to the lab. And in a few days, she called me saying that me thyroid wasn’t working properly.
I came back in and had the whole work up. And then I wasn’t diabetic. And the endocrinologist checked me every so often and I haven’t been. Now I am thirty-two and I have just been diagnosed.
I have an awful time trying to lose weight. I am even considering weight loss surgery. I was told by my endocrinologist that if I lose just ten percent of my body fat that I could probably come off my metformin. Well easier said than done.
If you can help me I would greatly appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Rita Kelley
May 3rd, 2005 at 10:39 am
I don’t know that I can offer any help, but you’ve certainly got my best wishes. Losing weight is a long drawn-out process, and can’t really be rushed. I was hoping to hit the doctor’s 75-pound recommendation within a year; there’s no hope for that now. Maybe 15 months…
Good luck!
— Scott
February 21st, 2007 at 12:13 am
Rita,
In the research that I’ve done, you will not lose weight while on that medication. I have Type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism and I told my doctor that I will never go on the medicine for diabetes. I regulate my blood sugar with diet alone. I was doing really well with losing weight until I got the hypothyroidism. I hoping that once we get the medicine for that regulated then the weight will start to come off again.
Do a little research on the medication.
Good luck
Terri
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:16 am
Last year I was told I have high tsh 7.14. I went on meds and then stopped not knowing much about the problem. This year I went for my yearly and found it was up to 13.5. I started back on sythyroid and after a month I started getting super tired achy joints, neck stiffness. I had a ultrasound done everything is fine there. My antibodies are in the 38 and 39. I am 40 years old and for the last 10 or more years I have been in and out of depression. My question is; Is it always Hashimoto’s that attacks the thyroid? Or is there other diseases that causes the immune system to attack it also. This is confusing but I am happy to have an answer to all the years of stomach issues etc……
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:16 am
Last year I was told I have high tsh 7.14. I went on meds and then stopped not knowing much about the problem. This year I went for my yearly and found it was up to 13.5. I started back on sythyroid and after a month I started getting super tired achy joints, neck stiffness. I had a ultrasound done everything is fine there. My antibodies are in the 38 and 39. I am 40 years old and for the last 10 or more years I have been in and out of depression. My question is; Is it always Hashimoto’s that attacks the thyroid? Or is there other diseases that causes the immune system to attack it also. This is confusing but I am happy to have an answer to all the years of stomach issues etc……
November 17th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
I was treated for Hashimoto’s disease with radioactive iodine treatments to kill the gland over 30 years ago. Living with Hypothyrodism and daily pills of synthyroid have worked fine for me. I watch EVERYTHING I put in my mouth everyday of my life. I’ve managed to keep my weight under control. But, it is a struggle everyday. HOWEVER, in the last two or three weeks, I’ve lost about 15 pounds. I have not changed my diet at all. I’ve been terribly thirsty, which made me wonder about the posibility of diabetes. I’ve worn glasses for over two years. Now, I can see close up, but everything else is blurred. I have a doctor’s appointment scheduled, but not for another two weeks. I’ve NEVER in my life worried about losing weight. I’ve always worried about gaining it and maintaining it. I’m scared about gaining the weight back with more if the doctors put me on something.
Can someone give me some advice and guidance? I had no idea that diabetes and hypothyroidism were connected until I found this website. I’d appreciate any advice or information.
Thanks
November 23rd, 2007 at 8:47 am
Sorry I didn’t see this before. I have no real advice. The link between diabetes and hypothyroidism is simply that both the pancreas and the thyroid are endocrine glands. Anything which is generally debilitating the endocrine system could cause both conditions. I don’t think there is much more of a link than that. In my case, tests showed that it was essentially coincidence.
However losing fifteen pounds in a few weeks sounds serious, and you definitely want to follow up with your doctor about that. I wouldn’t wait for a scheduled appointment. Call right away and ask if the doctor wants to see you sooner because of the weight loss.
Good luck.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I really found this site to be very helpful and full of good information. Thank you for taking the time to post this info. I look forward to you writing again soon.
May 31st, 2008 at 11:44 am
I sometimes feel like the only one with diabetes and hypothyroidism. There really isn’t that much information out there. I wish the ADA and Thyroid assoc. would get together and create an info page. I have so many questions.
June 17th, 2008 at 6:36 am
Came across this article on internet..
hi
just came across this article on internet
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June 19th, 2008 at 5:03 am
[…] hypothyroidism for a long time now. But just recently I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. …http://scott.sauyet.com/thoughts/archives/2005/01/11/diabetes-hypothyroidism-link/Pediatric Advisor 2006.2: Hypothyroidism Acquired TypeWhat is hypothyroidism? Hypothyroidism is a […]
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