Low Thyroid Function May Influence Diabetes Progression

Low thyroid function is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and with the progression of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes, according to the results of a recent study.

While previous research has suggested a link between thyroid function and type 2 diabetes, its association with prediabetes and disease development remains unclear.
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To investigate this relationship, researchers followed 8452 participants in a prospective population-based cohort study.

Cases of diabetes were established using general practitioners’ records, hospital discharge information, and serum glucose measurements.

During a mean follow-up of 7.9 years, 1100 cases of prediabetes and 798 cases of diabetes were recorded. Overall, higher levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone were associated with higher diabetes risk, and higher levels of free thyroxine were associated with a lower diabetes risk.

The risk of progression from prediabetes to diabetes was 1.4 times higher in the highest tertile within the normal range of thyroid function compared with the lowest tertile.

“Future studies should investigate whether screening for and treatment of (subclinical) hypothyroidism is beneficial in subjects at risk of developing diabetes,” the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Chaker L, Ligthart, Korevaar TIM, et al. OR33-2: Thyroid function and type 2 diabetes risk: a population-based prospective cohort study. Presented at: ENDO 2016; April 1-4, 2016; Boston, MA. https://endo.confex.com/endo/2016endo/webprogram/Paper24901.html. Accessed April 7, 2016.