Your thyroid plays an essential role in regulating a number of bodily functions and producing certain hormones, so it should come as no surprise that an underfunctioning thyroid can lead to an increased risk of other conditions. One such condition is diabetes. Some medical circles even use the term thyrobetes to discuss the connection between the two conditions. Below, we take a look at how these two conditions are related, and how you can reduce your risk of one condition if you have the other.
The Connection Between Your Thyroid and Diabetes
Thyroid disease and diabetes are two intertwined conditions. If you have a thyroid condition, you’re at an increased risk for developing diabetes, and if you have diabetes, you’re at an increased risk for thyroid disease. But why?
For starters, let’s take a closer look at hyperthyroidism, a condition that causes hormone overproduction in the thyroid gland. When the thyroid goes into a state of overproduction, it affects the liver, including how much glucose is put out by the liver, how intolerant we are to glucose, and how resistant we are to insulin. All these factors make it harder for our body to properly manage glucose, and in turn, our risk of diabetes increases.
Now let’s look at hypothyroidism. This is caused by an underfunctioning thyroid, which can lead to a glucose imbalance because your body is not getting enough from your diet. Hypothyroidism can also impact the liver’s ability to contribute to glucose production, as well as your insulin resistance. The condition can stress your body because it’s not getting what it needs, and that can lead to an increased risk of diabetes.
Finally, if you have diabetes, you might be at a heightened risk for developing a thyroid condition. Statistics show that diabetics are about 2-3 times more likely to develop a thyroid condition than non-diabetics. Unmanaged insulin levels can affect thyroid hormone production, and if this occurs long enough, the thyroid may regularly under- or over-produce hormones, leading to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
Preventing One If You Have The Other
If you have a thyroid condition, you want to do what you can to prevent the onset of diabetes, and vice versa if you have diabetes. The key to doing this is to be very proactive about managing the condition you do have.
If you have a thyroid condition, have it regularly examined by a specialist like Dr. Koeplin, and really be active in your management and treatment. Make sure you are taking your medication regularly and that your diet is one that supports healthy thyroid function. Exercise and a healthy diet can go a long way in helping to regulate some of the functions of your thyroid, as can medications. Same goes for diabetes. Be very aware of your blood sugar levels and keep them in an optimal range, as this will help protect your thyroid.
Finally, if you have one condition, be sure to get regular health screenings for the other. Because the two conditions are so connected, we need to ensure we’re staying on top of any potential problems that could come to fruition. By getting screened for related conditions, we can catch problems in their infancy, when they are much easier to manage and treat.
For more information about either condition, reach out to Dr. Koeplin’s office today.
