I have been prescribed this drug to try and control the glucose intolerance still too high after strict change in diet
I have successfully for over a year been using Thyroid -S
When l searched the effects of this drug
It appears to lower TSH (and effects B12 , )mine is practically none existent , just wondered if anyone else had Diabetes and Hashimoto’s and encountered problems?
I don't have diabetes, but was diagnosed a few years ago with insulin resistance. I was offered Metformin but turned the offer down and decided to try Berberine instead after reading several scientific studies concluding it was as effective as Metformin in lowering high blood glucose levels. As a result, I lost a lot of weight, something I had been unable to do on NDT (Thyroid-S) alone.
I am NOT giving you medical advice, and I am not familiar with all the details when it comes to treating diabetes (as opposed to insulin resistance or pre-diabetes). Supplements may not work the same in people with full-blown diabetes.
I have to admit I don't know if there is a connection between hypothyroidism and diabetes, although I know there is a link between all the endocrine glands and the hormones they produce. Not sure how the pancreas fits into all of this, though...I am sure others with more knowledge about this will chime in!
Thankyou for replying , the effects after 5 days have been quite unpleasant l wasn’t offered any other medication was told this one was effective with a review and bloods again in 4 weeks time My bloods have show a lowering of glucose levels so it’s been effective but l was worried that good balance l have achieved with NDT would be effected
I will definitely ask about the meds you are using , again Thankyou
I’m thinking of trying Berberine for blood sugar control. Please would you be kind enough to give me details of the dose and brand you successfully used? Glad to hear about your weight loss, that would be a definite bonus.
I used Thorne:
thorne.com/products/dp/berb...
The reason I chose this brand is because I've used other supplements from Thorne in the past and always found them to be of high quality and consistency.
Thank you. I’ll give them a try
Can I ask how you were diagnosed with insulin resistance and is the berberine prescribed by your GP?
Do you think that insulin resistance might be part and parcel of hypothyroidism, given the difficulty those with hypo have in losing weight?
I'm aware of the link between hypothyroidism and PCOS and the link between PCOS and insulin resistance.
No, the doctor wanted me on Metformin straight away. The doctor's diagnosis was "pre-diabetes". I am not sure "insulin resistance" is an official diagnosis, but it somehow sounds less drastic to me than "pre-diabetes"...!
At the time, I had read about IR being a reversible condition and that berberine had shown to be as effective as Metformin in several studies. Unlike Met, Berberine does not have any side effects.
The reason the doctor suggested Met was because I struggled to lose weight even on as much as 5 grains of NDT. So it was obvious poor T4 to T3 conversion while on T4 only was not the only reason for my weight gain and inability to lose weight.
To give you an idea, here are my labs from 2014:
fasting blood glucose 6.7 mmol/L (ref 3.9-7.1; median 5.5)
HbA1c 38 mmol/mol (ref 27-42)
So, both results were in range, but close to the upper normal limit, thus indicative of insulin resistance. I have read these persons are the best candidates for berberine.
I am not sure which (if any) connection there is between hypothyroidism and diabetes. I know that there is a thyroid-adrenal connection, and cortisol levels affect blood sugar levels. So I don't know if there is a domino effect, or if thyroid directly influences blood sugar and insulin levels. Hopefully, others will know!
If your B12 is extremely low you need testing for Pernicious Anaemia before starting on B12 injections or B12 sublingual supplements
Thyroid hormones need optimal levels of vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin
SlowDragon, PA is one condition - an auto-immune gastritis - that will result in B12 deficiency. You can be tested for PA whilst on B12 replacement therapy - though the test is prone to false negatives so inconclusive if the test comes back negative.
Using serum B12 to identify the existence of a B12 absorption problem is extremely difficult if supplementation starts but that is for any absorption problem that results in B12 deficiency. The problem is that people won't look for the cause of a deficiency if they can't identify a deficiency.
Seems most GP's not interested in looking for causes of many conditions
Low B12 and low stomach acid must be even more missed than thyroid conditions
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
If/when also on T3, or NDT make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
Metformin is known to interfere with uptake of B12 from food so can lead to a B12 deficiencyb- think the stat is 40% of patients - and it isn't recommended for those over 75 if I remember correctly. In diabetics this is an issue because there is a huge overlap in symptoms of B12 deficiency and diabetes which can lead to the B12 deficiency going undetected.
Having said that metformin is a very effective drug for treating insulin resistance and there is at least one study out there showing that it also seems to help cells use the B12 they have more efficiently.
If you are concerned about the metformin I would actually recommend speaking to a pharmacist who is more likely to be aware of interactions and alternatives than a GP and then follow up with your GP on other drugs.
As all three of insulin, thyroid hormones and B12 are involved in the Krebbs Cycle - the process your cells use to convert sugars to energy it shouldn't come as a surprise that symptoms - particularly around energy - for problems with all of them are pretty similar and unravelling exactly what is going on is going to be quite complex ... and that is just one of the many processes that go on in your cells.
Thankyou for this information
I am 70 with other chronic conditions ( heart ) and autoimmune conditions
I was having injections early 2000 for low B12 and when they stopped them l maintained with excellent liquid b 12 myself recent full bloods by gp showed good levels
I will talk to the pharmacist as they are going to check on me in 4 weeks time as l take a plethora of prescribed meds
Initially l was feeling very low because it is another medication to take and another physical problem but slowly getting my head around the constant glucose checks every day
Thankyou for replying l appreciate the information
I have my thyroid levels checked with Medicheck and will also do this in several weeks time ( last bloods were seen by gp and conceded some Hashimoto patients need their t3 to be in the higher upper range and took aback step as t4 was within range even though tsh is on the floor!
HbA1c test twice plus fasting glucose then two week readings of levels at fasting and after food they were at over 9 / to 15 everyday and then another blood test 2 hrs after breakfast and HbA1c test at the same time again
Just in case you (or others interested in your question) have mild psoriasis, I had a really big reduction in mine within a few weeks from starting on Metformin for my pre-diabetes. I’d previously seen a recommendation somewhere about reducing sugar as a way to clear up psoriasis. I made no other dietary or medication changes. My gp thought this was interesting. I’ve also heard good things about Berberine as an alternative to Metformin.
Thankyou Calicocat l have Lichen Sclerosis and Psoriasis the latter in my scalp , l can agree with you both have diminished . My diet has changed excluding as much sugar and white starch as l can ,loosing a stone in weight too .
NDT
NDT
NDT with Hashimoto's?
NDT
