The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Estimates that 29.1 million Americans have diabetes and among that group 8.1 million cases are undiagnosed. With such high numbers diabetes prevention is on the forefront of health.
We currently know and understand many causes of type 2 diabetes. Being overweight, eating a poor diet, not getting enough sleep and lack of exercise can all contribute to the onset of type 2 diabetes. But did you know your thyroid could also be a cause of diabetes?
Advertisement
Often overlooked, the thyroid is important to overall good health. Not only does it help produce hormones but it also regulates the body’s metabolism as well. So if you haven’t considered it before, let us explain the diabetes thyroid connection a bit further to you.
The relation between thyroid disease and diabetes
Thyroid disorders nearly affect as many Americans as diabetes – about 27 million – making it quite common. Both diabetes and thyroid disorders affect the endocrine system – glands which secrete hormones useful to bodily functions. So it is not surprising that those with diabetes may also have a thyroid disorder, and vice versa.
Within diabetes the body has a difficult time using insulin and the thyroid is responsible for the metabolism the thyroid then greatly affects the manageability of diabetes. The two are so closely related that among those with diabetes the occurrence of thyroid disorders increase by 10 percent.
Although it appears that thyroid disorders and diabetes occur simultaneously, researchers have yet to uncover an exact cause and effect relationship between the two.
Effect of thyroid dysfunction on diabetes
There is an apparent relationship between thyroid disease and diabetes, even though not fully understood, and so it’s important to know how exactly thyroid diseases affect diabetes.
A main function of the thyroid is to control sugar metabolism. A thyroid disorder then negatively impacts blood sugar making diabetes more difficult to manage. In hyperthyroidism the thyroid is working too quickly and so there is an increase in blood sugar being produced by the liver and quicker absorption.
With hypothyroidism the thyroid is working slower and so insulin may become cleared more slowly. Along with hypothyroidism comes higher cholesterol as well which is again a dangerous enemy for diabetics.
Thyroid dysfunction can
- Slow down the cell’s ability to absorb glucose
- Decrease the amount of glucose in the gut
- Slow down the response of insulin when blood sugar levels spike.
Clearly then thyroid disorders weigh heavily on diabetes.
Effect of diabetes on thyroid dysfunction
On the other hand if diabetes isn’t controlled, high blood sugar can negatively impact the thyroid by destroying the thyroid gland, more so in individuals with an autoimmune thyroid disease.
But when blood sugar is low, cortisol, the stress hormone, is released creating an imbalance in hormones as well as prompting the liver to pump out more insulin. Once again this leads to further damage to the thyroid gland.
Thyroid disease and diabetes also share many common symptoms including fatigue, weight loss or weight gain and trouble sleeping. These symptoms may become worse if the thyroid disease or diabetes is not managed properly.
Tips to manage thyroid disorders
A common thread between thyroid diseases and diabetes is management. Without proper management both illnesses can become more severe making the health of the individual worse. Here are a few tips to help you more successfully manage your thyroid disorder.
- Use hormone replacement medications
- Eat an iodine and selenium rich diet
- Exercise
- Reduce stress
- Eliminate soy and gluten from your diet.
These are just some tips which can help you better manage your thyroid disorder.
Tips to managing diabetes
On the other hand it is equally as important to manage your diabetes as well. Although many of the tips are similar they are still important to note.
- Eat a balanced diet
- Avoid processed and fried foods
- Exercise
- Control your weight
- Monitor your blood sugar numbers
- Pay attention to amount of carbohydrates in food items – they, too, contain sugar
- Monitor your sugar intake.
By following these tips you can also have proper control of your diabetes. Pair them together with the tips to manage your thyroid disease and you can continue to live a healthy life.
If you’re concerned about your thyroid or your diabetes, speak with your doctor. Keep in mind as well diabetes is preventable so lowering your risk of developing diabetes can also lower your chances of developing a thyroid disorder. And so if you’re doctor already has concerns that you may be prediabetic, start taking the appropriate steps to prevent diabetes onset.
Related Reading:
Effective natural remedies for diabetes
Diabetes is a disease where there is excess sugar in the blood. But why is it there and what can you do about it? Before we look at natural remedies for diabetes and effective tips for avoiding diabetes, let’s discuss why sugar is such a big deal – and why our body needs to be able to use it effectively.
Healthy eating with hypothyroidism
You eat for energy, you eat for strong bones, you eat for brain-boosting benefits and you eat to improve your heart. But do you eat a diet that would benefit your thyroid? ….Read more
Advertisement
Natural healing for thyroid disorders
Noticing how tired you are, the extra weight you’ve put on for no apparent reason, and your hair seems thin and dry? These are just a few of the many problems a slowdown in the output of the thyroid gland can cause. The older you get, especially for women, the more likely you are to experience thyroid problems.
Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics/2014statisticsreport.html
http://journal.diabetes.org/clinicaldiabetes/v18n12000/pg38.htm
http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/about-diabetes/general-diabetes-information/thyroid-disorders-and-diabetes/
http://www.diabetes.org.nz/about_diabetes/complications_of_diabetes/thyroid
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/110/137238/hypothyroidism/
http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/thyroid-and-diabetes-connection/#axzz3dINHZdFC
http://type1diabetes.about.com/od/schooldaycareandlaws/p/Thyroid-Disease-And-Diabetes.htm
http://chriskresser.com/thyroid-blood-sugar-metabolic-syndrome/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2585732/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-management/art-20047963
