Objective: The association between thyroid dysfunction and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus has been reported in several studies. This study was done to explore the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in young (<40 years) patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Eastern India. Methododology: A retrospective chart review of 120 patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus was done. 120 patients (male 81, female 39) of age <40 years, who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for Diabetes Mellitus according to ADA (American Diabetes Association) were enrolled and investigated through performance of Thyroid Function Tests (FT4,TSH). Results: Of 120 patients (of less than 40 years of age ), 65.83% of patients had the biochemical features of thyroid dysfunction. In descending order of frequency, we found subclinical hypothyroidism in 43.33% of cases (defined by no symptoms or no clinical features of hypothyroidism but with TSH level in the range of above 5 miu/ml but below 10 miu/ml with normal FT4 level), followed by 9.2% of patients with overt hypothyroidism ( either clinical features or TSH >10 miu/ml or FT4 below normal), 8.3% with subclinical hyperthyroidism (only biochemically low level of TSH <0.34 miu/ml in this study) and 5% of patients show features of clinical hyperthyroidism (clinical or FT4 level well above normal range along with low TSH). Conclusion A high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in young type 2 DM patients suggests evaluation for thyroid disorder for proper management.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Thyrotropin