From the Guidelines
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) and Hyperthyroidism Clinical Syndrome The clinical syndrome of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and hyperthyroidism is characterized by a combination of symptoms such as polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss, fatigue, tremors, nervousness, tachycardia, and exophthalmia, occurring in approximately 0.5% of people with T1DM 1.
Key Symptoms and Treatment
- Polyuria and polydipsia due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels
- Weight loss and fatigue due to hyperthyroidism and T1DM
- Tremors, nervousness, and tachycardia due to hyperthyroidism
- Exophthalmia, a characteristic sign of hyperthyroidism Patients may require insulin therapy with adjusted doses of rapid-acting insulin analogs and antithyroid therapy with medications such as methimazole or propylthiouracil 1.
Monitoring and Treatment Adjustments
Regular monitoring of blood glucose, thyroid function, and blood pressure is essential to adjust treatments and prevent complications, as thyroid function tests may be misleading if performed at the time of diagnosis due to the effect of previous hyperglycemia, ketosis, or ketoacidosis 1.
Associated Autoimmune Conditions
It is also important to consider the increased frequency of other autoimmune diseases in T1DM, such as thyroid dysfunction, celiac disease, Addison disease, autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune gastritis, dermatomyositis, and myasthenia gravis, which may require screening and monitoring as clinically indicated 1.