Mohan Toi1, Praveen Prabhakar2
BACKGROUND
Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine metabolic disease. Thyroid
disorders are the second most common endocrine disorders, there is a high chance
for an individual to have both diseases. Drugs for diabetes modify thyroid gland
function, so these drug interactions have to be taken into account for treatment
of diabetics with thyroid disorder. We wanted to study the profile of thyroid gland
dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
METHODS
A cross sectional observational study was conducted among 230 subjects
attending our tertiary care centre, meeting case definition of type 2 diabetes
mellitus, over a period of 18 months. A detailed history was taken, and
examination was done, followed by baseline investigations, blood sugar and
thyroid function tests. Data was collected in proforma, entered in Microsoft Excel
and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
RESULTS
In the present study, 18.3 % (42) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had
abnormal thyroid profile. The most common abnormality was subclinical
hypothyroidism (66 %). 57.2 % were females and 42.8 %, males. Majority
belonged to 41 - 60 yrs. age group (56.5 %). 57 % patients had family history of
diabetes mellitus. 75 % were overweight and obese. The prevalence of
hypertension (50.9 %) and hypercholesterolemia (31.8 %) was high.
CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was found to be more among type 2 diabetics
than in general population, and that too, in females. There was no significant
correlation between age, type of treatment, family history, hypertension and
hypercholesterolemia.
