[Thyroid disorders in diabetic patients].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate thyroid function and morphology in all diabetic outpatients from our institution.

METHODS

From 1996 to 1998, all diabetic patients were submitted to thyroid ultrasonography (US) and serum measurement of free T4, TSH, TPOAB, and TRAb. The control group, encompassing outpatients of the same hospital without diabetes and thyroid diseases, was submitted to the same evaluation. A patient was shown to have thyroid disorder when two or more measurements were altered, or when the US was abnormal.

RESULTS

The diabetic patients (n= 256) differed from controls (n= 75) by presenting a greater frequency of thyroid disorders (51.6% vs. 38.7%; P<0.05). In patients with thyroid disorders, both groups did not differ regarding thyroid function. In diabetic patients with thyroid disorders there was a higher frequency of women, type 2 diabetes, and family history of thyroid disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of thyroid disorders in the diabetic population leads us to recommend thyroid evaluations in all diabetic patients.