Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: January | Volume: 7 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 79-85
Evaluation of Thyroid Hormones Level in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus as Compared to Normal Individuals in Nepal
Arun Acharya1, Prithvi Bahadur Shah1, Ekta Chitkara2, Sabina Shrestha1
1Department of Biochemistry, Norvic international Hospital, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2Department of Biochemistry, Manav Rachna International University, Faridabad, India.
Corresponding Author: Arun Acharya
ABSTRACT
Objective: Diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorders are two of the most common endocrine disorders. Studying the levels of thyroid hormones in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus can aid in the diagnosis of various thyroid related disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate thyroid hormones (free tri-iodothyronine [FT3] and, free thyroxine [FT4]) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as compared to normal individuals.
Methods: The study was conducted at Norvic International Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. The study included thirty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending the Inpatient and Outpatient departments. Serum levels of FT4, FT3 and TSH were estimated as part of a thyroid hormone assay. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and random plasma glucose were estimated to test diabetes.
Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in the mean FT3 activity of normal individuals (4.44 ± 0.82) and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (3.37 ± 1.14; P =0.000). Statistically significant differences were also observed in the mean FT4 activity of normal individuals (1.45 ± 0.39) and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (1.1± 0.335; P=0.002). Statistical differences in the mean TSH activity were also observed between normal individuals (3.56 ± 2.50) and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (5.52 ± 2.41; P=0.003). A positive correlation between TSH and HBA1c (0.397) and a negative correlation between FT3 and HbA1c (-0.508) was found.
Conclusions: Thyroid hormone levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are perturbed with an increase in TSH and decrease in FT3 and FT4. Therefore this study suggests hypothyroidism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Key words: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Free Tri-iodothyronine, Free Tetra-iodothyronine, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, and Glycosylated Hemoglobin.