Diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorders

Abstract EN

Background : Diabetes mellitus (DM) and thyroid diseases are the most common endocrine disorders seen in adults.

Insulin and thyroid hormones affect the actions of each other.

DM may affect thyroid function test and there are many thyroid disorders that may present with DM. Objectives : To determine the influence of DM on thyroid state and to study : the frequency of thyroid disorders in diabetic patients and the relation between thyroid disorders and antidiabetic treatment. Methods : This study enrolled 415 diabetic patients who attend to the out patient clinic of DM at Al-Diwaniya Teaching Hospital, they were studied during the period from 1st of January 2009-30th of September 2009.

All patients were assessed for thyroid state. Results : Abnormal thyroid morphology (ATM) was found in 16.86 % of patients and thyroid dysfunction was found in 23.6 % of patients (clinical, subclinical hyper or hypothyroidism and sick euothyroid syndrome-SES-, were 4.3 %, 4.1 %, 3.1 %, 6.8 % and 5.3 % respectively). Conclusions : This study shows increase of thyroid disorders and increase of ATM in diabetic patients (mostly females) who were treated with oral antidiabetic (OAD). Routine screening for evidence of thyroid abnormalities in diabetic patients should be done.