Estimation of Thyroid Function Tests in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background and Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an endocrine and metabolic disorder caused by insulin resistance, insulin hormone deficiency, and impaired insulin production form pancreatic beta cells. Thyroid hormones play a key role in glucose metabolism via several mechanisms. This study aimed to estimate the serum thyroid hormone levels in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: The current case and control study was carried out in Erbil city. Blood specimens were collected from 100 subjects divided into two groups (50 case , 50 control). Each group consisted of (32 females and 18 males). The separate serum was used to determine the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone and thyroid hormones in diabetic patients and control subjects. Results: The results demonstrated that the serum thyroid hormones were significantly lower in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to healthy subjects. The mean ± SE was (3.58 ± 0.06) pmol/L and (14 ± 0.34) pmol/L, for triiodothyronine and thyroxine in type 2 diabetic patients, respectively. In addition, there was a significant difference in serum thyroxine levels among the grades of body mass index values in the case group. Conclusion: The study result concluded that type 2 diabetes mellitus could cause thyroid dysfunctions. It demonstrated that chronic hyperglycemia status in diabetes mellitus had a significant effect on serum thyroid hormone concentration.