Evaluation of Thyroid Dysfunction Among type 2 diabetic Punjabi Population

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is commonly associated with thyroid dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in subjects with type 2 diabetes and the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on other bio-chemical variables. In the present study 80 type 2 diabetic subjects and 80 healthy non diabetic subjects were investigated for total triidothyronine (T3), total thyroxin (T4), free triidothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), plasma glucose fasting(FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, high density lipoprotein(HDL), low density lipoprotein(LDL), very low density lipoprotein(VLDL), blood urea, serum creatinine, SGOT and SGPT. The level of T3, T4, FT3 and FT4 were significantly lower while the level of TSH was significantly higher in type 2 diabetics as compared to non-diabetics. From the 80 diabetic subjects studied, 30% showed abnormal thyroid hormone levels (23.75% had hypothyroidism and 6.25% had hyperthyroidism). Significantly higher levels of FPG, HbA1c, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, LDL, VLDL, blood urea, creatinine, SGOT, SGPT and significantly lower level of HDL was observed in diabetics as compared to non-diabetics subjects. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among type 2 diabetic Punjabi population is very high with subclinical hypothyroidism being more common. All patients with type 2 diabetes should undergo bi-annual screening to detect asymptomatic thyroid dysfunction and other bio-chemical variables to improve the quality of life and reduce the morbidity rate.