A hypothyroid person I once knew by his postings would often say how close diabetes and hypothyroidism were. Being new to the world of thyroid at the time, I didn't grasp what he was saying very well, but his comments keep coming back to me.
The article emphasises this is the first study to show a link. And even then, it was not the researchers' aim. Were I not so used to this sort of thing, I'd be expressing amazement that could be the case. It is surely obvious that a connection is likely. Indeed, is there even the possibility of two endocrine conditions which are absolutely NOT related?
Researchers find diabetes and goiter link for the first time
Stef dela Cruz
Dec 31, 2014
At first glance, it wouldn't make sense for goiter, an enlarged thyroid gland, to show any association with diabetes. However, a world-first study revealed that diabetes and goiter are indeed related.
For the first time, a link between type 2 diabetes and an enlarged thyroid gland was found, thanks to research done by endocrinology experts Juan Diez and Pedro Iglesias in Madrid. Their study, published this year in the medical journal Clinical Endocrinology, involved almost 1,500 participants.
Rod, it would seem incredible to me if there was no link between endocrinological disorders. There's been anecdotal reporting about links between hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes for years. What surprises me is that this is the first study into the connection.
But Clutter, this is 'euthyroid' with goitre. Struggling thyroid for sure. Would be nice to be able to read the whole paper. Let me find out if I can get it.
If nothing else, low thyroid levels lead to weight gain, and excess weight correlates with typec2 diabetes risk, so the link is obvious. But until we understand the mechanisms the information is a bit meaningless.
The study looked at diabetics and their thyroid risks. What about patients with thyroid problems, with or without goitre, and their diabetes risks?
And then we come back to the biggie - is our thyroid epidemic due to the consumption of sugar and refined foods, as well as our epidemic of type 2 diabetes?
I always suspected a link and when I was diagnosed at T2 diabetic in 2008 I couldn't believe it because I didn't fit the typical T2 diabetic person as I was not very overweight, I ate a very health diet and exercised alot. I kept saying to my doctor that it must be something else because there was nothing more I could do to improve my diabetes other than take meds. He refused to listen to my concerns about my metabolism and then I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in February 2013. This I think is the reason I developed diabetes, I had an undiagnosed under active thyroid and a calcified nodule (probably a bleeding goitre) that was cancerous. My surgeon said that I'd had the cancer for many years and this coincided with when I was diagnosed as a diabetic. I'm so glad you found the research because it will be more ammunition for my fight for better medical care.
.... if diabetes isn’t controlled, high blood sugar can negatively impact the thyroid health by destroying the thyroid gland, especially in individuals with an autoimmune thyroid disease.
But when blood sugar is low, cortisol – the stress hormone – is released, creating a hormone imbalance as well as prompting the liver to pump out more insulin. Once again, this leads to further damage to the thyroid gland.
Thyroid disease and diabetes share many common symptoms including fatigue, weight loss or weight gain, and trouble sleeping. These symptoms may become worse if the thyroid disease or diabetes is not managed properly.
This is incredible to find this string now. I have recently been diagnosed with an under-active thyroid. But I must stress I am not diabetic.
So I have been doing a bit of random research- casting the net to see what I could find out.
My concern is the medical profession, in the main, have a reductionist approach to health problems and do not adopt an holistic approach to treatment. If one has more than one issue, then the likelihood is that each problem will be tackled separately.
I’ve already been made aware of the fact the NHS test for hypothyroidism is crude and really I need a full panel, but I’ve yet to book - the Covid thing is holding me back .
However- getting back to the link between diabetes and hypothyroidism- in India, the insulin plant has long been used to regulate blood sugar. I have found this plant mentioned as both costus pictus and costus igneous. I have also come across an article talking about an experiment where hypothyroidism was induced in rats and then they were fed costus pictus. According to the article function was re-established. It might be a bit of a leap to expect such a response in humans, but what if there was a therapeutic benefit?
Made for interesting reading. Just Google ‘costus pictus and hypothyroidism’ . The Indian and Asian Scientists are not so closed and seem more open minded and are not bound by pharma companies.
I have tried the insulin plant tea (sold as Thebu) and felt better, but I’m a sceptic so after having taken it once a day for a month stopped. I left it off for 4 days and had a down turn. I’m going back on it. I’m going to up it to two cups a day when I get the next batch.
It is a coarse powdered leaf I steep it with a lid on in a mug and when cool strain through a sheet of kitchen roll in a sieve. It’s early days but I did not expect to dip as I did when I ceased taking it . I will post later to give an update- I’m not advocating everyone running out to buy it, but I will keep people informed of my results. Just amazing the link is discussed here- most helpful.
Yes that’s the one! I’ll get back on the Thebu (tea made from leaves) post willing as it comes from Sri Lanka and if results seem significant I will feedback.
There is a long established link between type 1 diabetes and hypothyroidism. As soon as my son who was four at the time was diagnosed with type 1, they do an annual blood test for TSH and t4 levels because of their known link. Once they knew my son had thyroid antibodies they now do the blood test every six months. They are sadly diagnosing type 1 children regularly with hypothyroidism. I know it’s the case with adults too but can speak with more knowledge on type 1 children.
I just wish the diabetic teams knew much more about hypothyroidism as it’s been a huge battle recently of mine with a diabetic endo not having a clue about the thyroid but that’s another story on another post!
This is entirely the problem, two things two different issues as far as NHS ‘stay in your own lane’ is concerned. Our niece had three or four health issues being dealt with separately - she was on 20 pills a day, under several specialists, all prescribed separately . Ended up being offered palliative care as they couldn’t treat her. She came off all her meds, thanks to intervention of a pharmacist read round her subjects changed her diet and she is a relatively well woman.Scary
Charlie-Farley wow that is really scary. My god. I’m so glad she is much better now. It’s actually criminal.
I hate hearing about type 1 children who are on loads of medications and no one looks at the root cause or links symptoms. I’m trying to help a parent of a t1 child who is on four different medications including insulin of course and I am convinced they are all thyroid and gut related. I see it over and over on t1 support groups and it’s heartbreaking. You try and help but sadly many parents only listen to their GP’s or diabetes endos and make everything so much worse.
I’m so glad the pharmacist made such a difference. Legend! ❤️ Xx
There is also a high overlap between PCOS and autoimmune thyroid disease (20-40% of PCOS sufferers also have a thyroid problem). And PCOS if left unmanaged leads to type 2 diabetes in between 10-50% of women over 40 (depending on whether you go to Diabetes Uk or CDC in US for the stats) so I would suggest this strengthens the link further.
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