Publication:

Estimation of thyroid profile in patients with diabetes mellitus in New Civil Hospital, Surat

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) and thyroid diseases are the two common endocrinopathies seen commonly in the population. There is inter-dependence between insulin and thyroid hormones for normal cellular metabolism so that DM and thyroid diseases can mutually influence the other disease process. The excess or deficit of one hormone may result in functional derangement of other. Diabetes being a most common endocrine metabolic disorder, the variety of thyroid abnormalities may co-exist and interact with DM. Early detection of thyroid dysfunction and its treatment can delay the long-term complications of DM. The present study was planned to determine prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in DM patients and therefore to provide the appropriate guidelines.

Methods The study was cross-sectional. 100 patients were enrolled for the study. Among them 50 were control (non-diabetic) and 50 were cases (diabetic). They were enrolled in the study from medicine outpatient department’s and inpatient department’s according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Their thyroid profile (free T3, T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone) was done by chemiluminescence assay method.

Results Results were analyzed by unpaired-t-test. Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was found significantly high in DM patients. p<0.05 value considered as statistically significant.

Conclusions Screening for thyroid disease among patients with diabetes mellitus should be routinely performed for early detection and treatment of thyroid dysfunction to delay the complications of diabetes.