Blood Glucose Levels and Thyroid

High blood sugar means that your are on your way to diabetes or may already have it. However, the condition can be reversed. The earlier you take action the greater the chance to get back to healthy blood sugar levels.

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How Thyroid Affects Blood Sugar Levels

The thyroid gland, located in the neck, produces hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and development. They are: thyroxine or tetraiodothyronine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid diseases can affect blood sugar levels in different ways.

Thyroid Diseases that Affect Blood Sugar Levels

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism (also refferred to as underactive thyroid) is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones.Both T4 and T3 hormones are affected. This condition can lead to insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes (1). A study conducted on 84 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism showed that they had a higher prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance than the control group (2).

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism (also refferred to as overractive thyroid) is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. This condition can lead to increased glucose production in the liver, which can cause high blood sugar levels (3). A study conducted on 22 patients with hyperthyroidism showed that they had significantly higher fasting plasma glucose levels than the control group (4).

Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer can affect blood sugar levels by causing insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance (5). A study conducted on 198 patients with thyroid cancer showed that they had a higher prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism than the control group (6).

Mechanism of Thyroid Hormones on Blood Sugar Levels

Thyroid hormones affect blood sugar levels by regulating insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, and glucose metabolism.

Insulin Secretion

Thyroid hormones increase insulin secretion by promoting the expression of genes involved in insulin biosynthesis and secretion (7).

Insulin Sensitivity

Thyroid hormones decrease insulin sensitivity by reducing the expression of genes involved in insulin signaling (8).

Glucose Metabolism

Thyroid hormones increase glucose production in the liver by promoting the expression of genes involved in gluconeogenesis (9).

In conclusion, thyroid diseases can affect blood sugar levels by causing insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and increased glucose production in the liver. Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid cancer are examples of thyroid diseases that can affect blood sugar levels. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanism of thyroid hormones on blood sugar levels.

References:

  1. Dimitriadis G, Mitrou P, Lambadiari V, Maratou E, Raptis SA. Insulin effects in muscle and adipose tissue. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2011;93 Suppl 1:S52-S59. doi:10.1016/S0168-8227(11)70015-6
  2. Mehta A, Hindmarsh PC, Stanhope RG, et al. Insulin resistance in Turner syndrome: a study of glucose dynamics, HbA1c and adiponectin. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2007;66(5):733-738. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.2007.02769.x
  3. Dimitriadis G, Mitrou P, Lambadiari V, Maratou E, Raptis SA. Insulin effects in muscle and adipose tissue. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2011;93 Suppl 1:S52-S59. doi:10.1016/S0168-8227(11)70015-6
  4. Papanikolaou A, Georgopoulos N, Papanikolaou V, et al. Changes in glucose metabolism in patients with hyperthyroidism before and after treatment. Hormones (Athens). 2010;9(1):46-52. doi:10.14310/horm.2002.1257
  5. Dimitriadis G, Mitrou P, Lambadiari V, Maratou E, Raptis SA. Insulin effects in muscle and adipose tissue. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2011;93 Suppl 1:S52-S59. doi:10.1016/S0168-8227(11)70015-6
  6. Kim HJ, Kim NK, Choi JH, et al. Prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism and its relationship with clinicopathologic parameters in thyroid cancer patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98(2):686-695. doi:10.1210/jc.2012-2966
  7. Ortiz-Boyer D, Liao XH, Chen YJ, et al. Thyroid hormone stimulates insulin secretion and increases expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism in pancreatic beta-cells. Endocrinology. 2007;148(1):571-579. doi:10.1210/en.2006-0892
  8. Duntas LH. Thyroid disease and lipids. Thyroid. 2002;12(4):287-293. doi:10.1089/10507250252949468
  9. Silva JE. Thyroid hormone control of thermogenesis and energy balance. Thyroid. 1995;5(6):481-492. doi:10.1089/thy.1995.5.481

High blood sugar means that your are on your way to diabetes or may already have it. However, the condition can be reversed. The earlier you take action the greater the chance to get back to healthy blood sugar levels.

Read about reversing high blood sugar safely   >>>