“If I have diabetes, do I have higher chances of having an overactive thyroid?”
I have been diagnosed with diabetes recently. I am worried that It could cause other problems in my body too. Can diabetes also lead to an overactive thyroid?
7 Answers
The problems that diabetes can cause are related to the syrupy, sticky blood and blood cells it causes. Thus kidney failure, stroke, heart attacks, peripheral vascular disease, visual loss earlier dementia. While diabetes does not itself cause thyroid disease, type 1 Diabetes, thought to be autoimmune in nature, can be associated with an increased risk of other autoimmune conditions, including overactive or underactive thyroid ,adrenal insufficiency ,celiac disease, etc., as part of autoimmune polyglandular syndromes.
Diabetes could definitely cause other conditions if it is uncontrolled. The most common conditions are eye damage, nerve manage and kidney damage. Poorly controlled diabetes will also put you at higher risk for stroke and heart attack. Regarding overactive thyroid, that is a tricky question. Type 2 diabetes will not cause an overactive thyroid. However, if you have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, which can be related to the immune system, you can be at risk of having other immune related conditions including overactive thyroid.
There is an increased risk of thyroid disease, but mostly, hypothyroidism rather than hyperthyroidism.
It depends on the type of diabetes. Type 1 diabetics who have an autoimmune condition (antibodies attack the islet cells that damages them and thus there is a serious decrease in insulin, or even no insulin production), do have increased thyroid problems. Thyroid problems however is very common in the population at large.
Best Dr. Norwood
Best Dr. Norwood
Dear patient,
If you have type 1 (insulin dependent diabetes which is due to auto immunity) you do have a higher chance of developing auto immune hyperthyroidism as well as other autoimmune disorders. In type 2 diabetes, there is no connection with hyperthyroidism except that it can worsen diabetes if the hyperthyroid condition develops. Hypothyroidism due to its effect on metabolism, e.g., weight gain, effect on insulin secretion can lead to diabetes.
Respectfully,
Marvin A. Leder, MD FACP FACE
If you have type 1 (insulin dependent diabetes which is due to auto immunity) you do have a higher chance of developing auto immune hyperthyroidism as well as other autoimmune disorders. In type 2 diabetes, there is no connection with hyperthyroidism except that it can worsen diabetes if the hyperthyroid condition develops. Hypothyroidism due to its effect on metabolism, e.g., weight gain, effect on insulin secretion can lead to diabetes.
Respectfully,
Marvin A. Leder, MD FACP FACE
Yes, and you also have the possibility of presenting with low thyroid- hypothyroidism. Have your doctor check your thyroid function tests once yearly.
Rarely. Thyroid disease can be a part of a syndrome of endocrine organs that are attacked by the immune system. This can include loss of adrenal gland, celiac disease, loss of hair, loss of skin pigment, etc. This problem is due to autoimmunity and results in a loss of function of the glands due to destruction. So, the result is usually loss of function, not an increase. Hypothyroidism is the usual problem with diabetes, not hyper or overactive, though this can occur. In any case, get the overactive thyroid problem taken care of, because it may make the diabetes hard to control as well as its effect on other organs, such as the heart.
