Prevalence of Thyroid Disorders in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Diabetes mellitus and thyroid diseases are the two common endocrine diseases. Thyroid disorder is found commonly in most forms of diabetes and is associated with advanced age particularly in type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study is to know the prevalence and profile of thyroid disorders as assessed by thyroid hormone assay in hospital based cross section study in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus and to know the prevalence of sub clinical hypothyroidism in type 2 diabetes mellitus and its effect on dyslipidemia in a rural setting. Methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional study done during the period from February 2013 to December 2014. Study population consists of 100 diabetic patients. Blood samples from all patients were collected in a standardized manner and were subjected for routine and special investigations including FBS, PP2BS, TSH, T3, T4. Fisher exact test was used for analysis of nominal variables presented in two (2×2) tables and chi-square test was used for distributions are presented in two by two tables. P-value<0.05 was taken as significant. Results: The prevalence of hypothyroidism was high in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It was 13% in this study and it was statistically significant. It was also concluded that subclinical hypothyroidism was more common in diabetics. Conclusion: Diabetes and thyroid disorders are co-related with each other. In patients of diabetes, subclinical hypothyroidism is commonly found.