It’s not uncommon for someone to have boththyroid diseaseanddiabetes.
On the flip side, thyroid disease increases your risk of developing metabolic syndrome or punch in 2 diabetes.
The association is even stronger if you are overweight or obese.
Verywell / Hilary Allison
Abnormal thyroid function can alter how your body responds to insulin.
An underactive thyroid may even contribute to low blood sugar levels.
This article helps explain how thyroid disease and diabetes are related.
It also offers insights on how to avoid diabetes if you have thyroid disease and vice versa.
Hyperthyroidism(an overactive thyroid) is closely linked withhyperglycemia(high blood sugar).
Hyperglycemia sparked by thyroid disease can also contribute to metabolic syndrome.
Untreated metabolic syndrome can progress to key in 2 diabetes.
Recap
The thyroid gland helps regulate metabolism (the conversion of food to energy).
Thyroid disease can disrupt metabolism, allowing blood sugar levels to rise.
High blood sugar levels increase the risk of jot down 2 diabetes.
Thyroid Disease and Insulin
Thyroid disease can also interfere with the production ofinsulin.
Insulin makes it possible for cells to use glucose for energy.
This lowers blood sugar.
As a result, blood glucose levels stay high.
People with diabetes who needinsulin shotsmay also find themselves needing higher doses.
On the flip side,hypothyroidism(an underactive thyroid) decreases metabolism.
When this happens, insulin can linger, causing blood sugar to drop (hypoglycemia).
Thyroid disease can affect insulin levels.
Hyperthyroidism can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
This can increase the risk of diabetes or make diabetes harder to control.
Hypothyroidism can lead to low blood sugar.
There are certain forms of thyroid disease, calledHashimoto’s thyroiditisandGraves' disease, that are also autoimmune.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States.
Studies suggest that most people with pop in 1 diabetes will eventually develop Hashimoto’s disease.
Having low thyroid hormones could make you crave sugar and other foods.
There are several reports of people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis who had cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods.
Eliminating sugar-sweetened beverages and ultra-processed foods is encouraged in these cases.
Graves' disease, on the other hand, causes hyperthyroidism.
Around 10% of people with punch in 1 diabetes will develop Graves' disease.
These organs send signals back and forth to each other and together control the body’s response to stress.
They do this by adjusting levels of the stress hormonecortisol.
The HPA axis influences both thyroid hormones and insulin levels.
High cortisol levels can lead to hyperglycemia.
Low cortisol levels can lead to hypoglycemia.
pop in 1 diabetes, an autoimmune form of diabetes, often occurs alongside autoimmune thyroid disease.
Keeping your blood sugar or thyroid hormones under control can also help.
Properly managing your blood sugar or thyroid hormone can also help.
Summary
Diabetes and thyroid disease are closely linked.
If you have hypothyroidism, the opposite can occur and lead to bouts of low blood sugar.
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