Need advice on vitamins : Having an under active... - Thyroid UK

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Need advice on vitamins

Peachandcream profile image
14 Replies

Having an under active thyroid, resulting in having to take 100mg of level thyroxine, I am now diabetic. At the moment it’s diet controlled. But I fear that might change soon as I have put on extra weight since retiring. I have heard of , Halki diabetes remedy. Which can reverse diabetes. Has any one else heard of it, or can anyone advise me the best vitamins to take. Thank you. Keep safe.

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Peachandcream
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Rapunzel profile image
Rapunzel

diabetesselfmanagement.com/...

I understand why you might want to try this but it doesn't seem well received by this reviewer

Peachandcream profile image
Peachandcream in reply to Rapunzel

Many thanks for your reply. I think I’m just desperate for a solution. So I’m open to new ideas or sound advice. Thank you.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I am sorry you have developed diabetes and are also hypothyroid.

Quite a number of people who take levothyroxine complain of 'unexplained' weight gain. This could be due to not being on a sufficient dose of thyroid hormone replacements. The inactive hormone is levothyroxine (T4) and it is supposed to convert to liothyronine (T3) which is the Active Thyroid Hormone and it is T3 that's required in our millions of T3 receptor cells. Getting the doctor to test Free T4 and Free T3 would be helpful in informing you whether you need an increase in dose or whether you convert levo into sufficient T3.

Peachandcream profile image
Peachandcream in reply to shaws

Really appreciate your reply. I am due a blood test next week, so I will let them know of my concerns. Thank you for your kindness. We are all dealing with difficult times, but it’s reassuring to know that I can ask a question and get advice. Thank you. Take care.

sec1076 profile image
sec1076

I have similar issues and though I am not familiar with the Halki diabetes remedy, I have had success with a ketogenic style diet. I say style because there is a lot of information out there about the keto diet and not all such diets are the same. Generally I try to add as much healthy fat to my diet as I can (avocados, olives and olive oil, coconut oil and if you can tolerate dairy, organic whole fat dairy products) and eliminate obvious carbs. I don't eat grains, beans or fruit much less any refined sugar. I do eat a variety of vegetables (which people on a very strict keto diet do not do) and quality meats. I had already been health conscious when I started this diet which was probably seven years ago. But I had gained about 40 pounds for no obvious reason and my blood sugar had been creeping up into the pre-diabetic range. This diet took the weight off, and reduced my fasting glucose and my triglycerides. I discovered the diet by listening to an online Diabetes Summit that was hosted by Brian Mowl. I found it extremely helpful. I also read the book the Rosedale diet. My blood sugar is again inching up so I may have to do more tweaking and research. I would like to follow this thread and find out more about the Halki remedy.

Peachandcream profile image
Peachandcream in reply to sec1076

Many thanks for your advice, sounds positive. Will certainly research and try different ideas. What I find frustrating is they is no book that will tell you what exactly you can and cannot eat. It’s all trial and error at the moment. Canned soups, shoot my sugar levels up. Started making my own soup, which is disgusting. Oh well, I’ll keep trying. Thank you for replying.

Spareribs profile image
Spareribs

My GP told me I would gain weight if not properly medicated (I'd already gained 2 stone right after my thyroid op!) I don't think we always progress to diabetes, but it's a worry.

About 12 years ago when all this malarky started, I found out I was low in Vit D, supplemented and pain went (avoided bilateral carpal/cubital tunnel surgery btw) It gets converted into a hormone & all cells need it - for most processes. If we're low in vitamins (aka vital minerals) your Thyroid will slow all processes down, like it's winter. We need sunshine, that's why our northern skin turned pale over time! Yes we came from Africa 😊

Dr Michael Mosely was pre-diabetic & managed to avoid it with diet - although I don't agree with fasting myself- just makes you more hungry! however I do avoid carbs & too much fruit (fructose sugar). He was researching here on TUK awhile back for a programme on Thyroid...

If your GP won't test vitamins, DIY tests will help, it's your body & your life 😊

DavePhoto profile image
DavePhoto

If you have type 2 diabetes then there is a really good book:'Life without diabetes' by professor Roy Taylor of Newcastle University. ISBN 978-1-78072-409-6. The author is a leading expert in type 2 and one of the first to demonstrate that type 2 is a reversible condition. The book brings together the latest research findings and presents a weight loss plan for reversing type 2. It is also recommended by Dr Michael Mosley and a number of well known celebrities who have credited it with reversing their type 2.

Peachandcream profile image
Peachandcream in reply to DavePhoto

Thank you replying. I am certainly interest in the sound of that book and intend to purchase it. Thanks for the advice.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

First step is to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

100mcg levothyroxine is not a high dose

You may still be under medicated

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

Which brand

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Do you have Hashimoto’s

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Also vitamin D available as separate test via MMH

Or alternative Vitamin D NHS postal kit

vitamindtest.org.uk

Peachandcream profile image
Peachandcream in reply to SlowDragon

Very good advice. Didn’t realise about having a blood test before taking medication. No I haven’t got . Hashimotos. Many thanks for giving me all that advice. Will study all the answers.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Peachandcream

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies or by ultrasound scan of thyroid

It’s highly likely the cause is autoimmune thyroid disease

To confirm autoimmune thyroid disease you need BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested

NHS only test TG antibodies if TPO are confirmed as high

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies

Obviously struggle to get diagnosed unless test privately in this situation

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies at all. So ultrasound scan of thyroid can be extremely helpful

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

High cholesterol is linked to being hypothyroid. If cholesterol is still high you are likely under medicated

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Peachandcream

guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight

Even if we frequently don’t start on full replacement dose, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until on, or near full replacement dose

NICE guidelines on full replacement dose

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

1.3.6

Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.

Also here

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...

gp-update.co.uk/Latest-Upda...

Traditionally we have tended to start patients on a low dose of levothyroxine and titrate it up over a period of months. RCT evidence suggests that for the majority of patients this is not necessary and may waste resources.

For patients aged >60y or with ischaemic heart disease, start levothyroxine at 25–50μg daily and titrate up every 3 to 6 weeks as tolerated.

For ALL other patients start at full replacement dose. For most this will equate to 1.6 μg/kg/day (approximately 100μg for a 60kg woman and 125μg for a 75kg man).

If you are starting treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism, this article advises starting at a dose close to the full treatment dose on the basis that it is difficult to assess symptom response unless a therapeutic dose has been trialled.

BMJ also clear on dose required

bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m41

bestpractice.bmj.com/topics...

Peachandcream profile image
Peachandcream in reply to SlowDragon

I weigh 60.328 kilograms. So my calculations show 96.51 micrograms is the correct dose. I think. I’m on 100 micrograms . So I’m on the right track. Thank you very much for all the information.

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