Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. This means that the immune cells attack your insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Likewise, in thyroid autoimmunity, the immune cells attack your thyroid gland. As a result, it can lead to abnormal levels of T3 and T4 in the blood.  Both overactive and underactive gland may result due to this.

When you have one autoimmune disorder, the risk of another autoimmune disease rises significantly. By the same token, type 1 diabetics are more likely to have other autoimmune diseases. For example, Hashimoto thyroiditis, celiac disease, Graves disease, Addison disease, vitiligo, autoimmune hepatitis, myasthenia gravis, and pernicious anemia.

However, type 1 diabetes appears to share a closer link with autoimmune thyroid disorders than other diseases of autoimmunity.

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Type 1 Diabetes and Thyroid Autoimmunity: How Common is the Association?

Thyroid function and glucose metabolism are closely related. The levels of T3 and T4 are critical to regulating glucose metabolism in the body. Both these disorders can stunt your child’s growth as well as make the glucose control go haywire.

According to the studies, 17% to 30% of type 1 diabetics have an abnormal function of the gland. That said, thyroid autoimmunity occurs more frequently than other autoimmune disorders in the patients with type 1 diabetes.

In most cases, an underactive (hypothyroidism) gland prevails, while an overactive gland (hyperthyroidism) may affect less than 1% of the cases.

When is the Right Time to Test Thyroid Function When You Have Type 1 Diabetes?

Taking the test right after the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes can lead to false results. The abnormal findings could result from recent high blood glucose levels, weight loss or unusual metabolic processes like ketosis.

Thus, the researchers suggest you take your kid for the test only after their blood glucose levels have stabilized.

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[expand title=”References“]

Maedica. URL Link. Retrieved September 5, 2017.

American Diabetes Association. URL Link. Retrieved September 5, 2017.

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