Diabetes and thyroid through the prism of some metabolic abnormalities

Abstract

Introduction: Thyroid dysfunction (TD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are the two most common chronic endocrine disorders with variable prevalence among different populations. Both insulin and thyroid hormones are affected by autoimmune pathology and they do affect cellular metabolism, being a part of the metabolic syndrome. However, the correlations between T2DM and TD have not yet been sufficiently defined, followed by ambivalent results from previous studies.

Objectives: The study was conducted to compare the metabolic parameters of patients with T2DM with and those without AITD so as to determine the existence of a correlation between these and hormonal parameters (TSH, FT4).

Design and methods: This are documented observational case-control study that included 31 subjects with T2DM and AITD and 25 with T2DM without AITD. Sessions were conducted at the Clinic for Internal Medicine of the University Clinical Center in Tuzla. Individual metabolic parameters were analyzed, and in a broad evaluation, the values of hormonal and immune parameters were monitored and documented.

Results: There were no differences in age, gender and BMI of the examined groups. There was a statistically significant difference between the values related to OS, SKT, DKT, PGN, 2h ppPG, and HbA1c. A statistically significant correlation was found between TSH and females, FT4 and BMI (rS = 0.375 pvalue = 0.045) as wellas a correlation between TSH and HbA1c (rS = 0.313 pvalue = 0.019) and TSH and 2x ppPG (rS = 0.281, pvalue = 0.036).

Conclusion: The expression of metabolic control parameters is strongest in the group of patients with diabetes and AITD. Their identification as a risk factor and the detection of their subclinical signs are extremely important for the early implementation of preventive and therapeutic strategies, which could change the course of diabetic complications and significantly improve prognosis of diabetes.