Diabetes.Blog.com

1 - I received a recent e-mail that I thought I'd share with you:

Dear Webmaster

We have an e-book entitled 'Hypothyroidism in peri menopause and menopause.' It is a great 5000 word document as a PDF and we are giving it away.

If you have visitors, members or subscribers to your site and newsletters, then why not tell them
about it.

I am sure they'll see some great value in this product and it won't cost you a thing. You can simply ask them to visit the site (www.thyroidtalk.com) or send me an email with 'hypo e-book' in the title to news@thyroidtalk.com and I'll then send them the pdf by return.

I hope you will offer this product to your visitors and subscribers. Here is to your continued success.

All the best

Sam Long
Thyroid Talk

 (Comment this)

2 - Bill: I have hypothyroidism and am on Synthyroid. I was diagonosed approximately 5 years ago. After going on Synthroid I began to gain weight and it would jump 3 lbs or 5 lbs at a time and simply stay there no matter what I did. I felt like the thyroid pill simply regulated my weight. Absolutely no help from my Dr at the time. Approximately 10 months ago I was diagnosed as gluten intolerant. I now have reason to believe it is the gluten intolerant that is making it impossible for me to lose weight. I gained 25 lbs in a 3.5 year time frame and have kept it on. I battle it every day - do not wish to gain one more lb. Am now on Symlin and no weight lost and am very fatigued. No outdoor muscle structure! I am determined to find out what it takes to get my body to run properly.

Jackie (Comment this)

3 - Bill the diabetesdoc, Checked out the Thyroid Talk website. Be aware that when you request the free PDF e-book on hypothyroidism, you will also begin to receive other emails from them: "We can then keep you updated with thyroid related products and services."
 (Comment this)

4 - Jackie If you haven't already, find a celiac support group and check things out online. The celiac, diabetes, and thyroid are all working to make you tired; just give the gluten free diet time to work and make sure you have all of the gluten out of your diet. Also check w/ your Dr. to make sure you don't have some depression that needs help too. I am dealing w/ the celiac, my husband and mother have diabetes (why I read this blog) and mother takes synthroid. It has taken me a couple of years to get all the gluten out of the diet but am doing much better. Hope this will help.
Dr. Bill hope this isn't too much off topic but I felt she needed some info on the gluten, I saw your celiac article and appreciated it. (Comment this)

5 - Jackie Dickinson , type 1 diabetic 27 years, pump 5 years, average insulin intake 25 units, celiac/gluten intolerant, symlin 8/4/06,
I am a type 2 and eat gluten free because I believe I'm gluten intolerant and feel much better when I eat gluten free. I have gone to an organic and process food free diet and feel a whole lot better. I make my own gluten free bread, have learned how to eat out in restaurants, and generally eat very simply. Like Becky says all three of your conditions are working against you and causing the fatigue. I agree going to a celiacs support group might help you in learning how to eat in a world that is full of gluten. Gluten is in everything it seems and could be responsible for alot of the fatigue and joint pain that so many of us suffer from. I'm not sure about the weight loss, or lack of it but one question I have is do you exercise? (Comment this)

6 - hoping found the right diabetic blog to post on. I have Pap. thyroid cancer besides type11 and wondered if this affects my diabeis control. Also was told by my Doc that everyone gets neuropathy like I have whether or not the keep their BS under control. In have asked this question on other message boards and have received many different opinions and am hoping since this is a diabetis and thyroid disorder blog maybe I can get an expert opinion.
Thanks and God Bless
Patti Cravener
Type 11 Diabetis
Papillary thyroid cancer
6 units novolin n 100 insulin
200 mcgs synthroid
Readin PA (Comment this)

7 - Does anyone have experience with medication other than Synthyroid. I would like to hear from others. I'm in the process of researching before I go to my doctor 2/14. I have always felt that Synthyroid was my problem with weight gain. I have held steady for 3 years. Yes, I do exercise - walk 3.5 miles 5 times a week and weight exercises in the home. My metobolism has been checked at 1500 and I eat 1200 or less in calories. I make a concentrated effort to eat 1200 since my doctor said it was bad for me to eat less. ALL MY FOOD IS GOOD STUFF. I was thinking today how my food has evolved into what I am currently eating. I have been eliminating various categories over the 30 years that I have been a diabetic - donuts, bagels, pies, cakes, desserts, chips, crackers, of course nothing with flour at this time. I don't even eat the flour substitutes except for maybe twice a month. Rarely eat anything in a can - fish, chicken, etc. I have been having some good days as far as energy goes. The first time this occured before Thanksgiving I thought it was because I was drinking green tea so I have continued to pour down the green tea but I have had a couple of bad days. In 2007 I hope to conquer or better understand the thyroid. All help is welcomed. Thanks. (Comment this)

8 - P Cravener,
I had a thyroidectomy 6 years ago and have been on Armour Thyroid - I went through a stressful time and my blood sugar went out of whack - I went on a Type A blood diet and a couple supplements - Lipoic Acid and I take 1/2 of an Adrenal complex - I went for my thyroid checkup and they suggested I start taking Metformin - it seems to have made my thyroid medicine intensify. Are you taking Metformin? Have you had symptons with your thyroid med? (Comment this)

9 - I do not take Metformin. Since my thyroid appears to be low (go to the doctor on the 14th) I feel that Synthyroid is probably not the right medication for me. I have been on medication for about 6 years. I have gained about 25 lbs in those years. Today my arms and hands hurt and the fingers are icy cold and numb. Even though I eat extremely well and I have been especially watching my cholesterol my cholesterol went from 198 to 268 after I left off the estrogen. I read that if you have a high unexplainable cholesterol reading you can bet it is low thyroid. I want to switch to Armour based on things I have read. My doctor probably will not like this new found knowledge of mine. I will let you know. My sugars are irractic since I stopped the estrogen and went from 8 to 10 Symlin. Since taking Symlin my insulin usage has increased by 8 units a day and I have not lost any weight - haven't gained any. I'm afraid to stop the Symlin since I think I need this hormone. Sorry - I'm complaining today. (Comment this)

10 - Karen G,
Hi Karen and thank you for your comment. No I am on Synthroid for my thyroid and insulin - Novolin N for my diabetis. If you have any moe questions do not hesitate to ask.
P Cravener
Pap. Thyroid Cancer
Type 11 Diabetis (Comment this)

11 - Just a note. I ceased taking Prempro, my estrogen, without consulting the endo. This was a big mistake. My Thyroid has been affected and my sugars are high and not responding like they use to. Is all this from not taking the Prempro? I don't know but I do know that I'm SLEEPLESS IN LANEXA and feel that the stress of no sleep on my body is really taking the toll. I'm ready to go back on the Prempro.
 (Comment this)

12 - Just a note. I ceased taking Prempro, my estrogen, without consulting the endo. This was a big mistake. My Thyroid has been affected and my sugars are high and not responding like they use to. Is all this from not taking the Prempro? I don't know but I do know that I'm SLEEPLESS IN LANEXA and feel that the stress of no sleep on my body is really taking the toll. I'm ready to go back on the Prempro.
 (Comment this)

13 - i was wonderinf if anyone knows how to loose weight with hypothriodism? I am not diabetic.
I dont eat much and i exercise alot - i still cant seem toloose a lb. I have gained nearly 20 lbs in 6 months. any advice ???? thanks much . (Comment this)

14 - jennifer ,

You are not alone. It has been three and a half years since my total thyroidectomy. It seems as if no one understands because they can't see anything wrong with you.

I can tell you that yes, more than likely, the weight and inability to lose it is directly related to the hypothyroidism.

How do you feel about your doctor? Is he/she willing to listen to your concerns about weight gain.

I have moved from a traditional endocrinologist to a "natural medicine" physician and although it has not solved all my problems, I'm feeling a little better than I did.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, patients are so responsible for their own care and yes, sometimes you need to get down right nasty to be heard. This is not just with thyroid concerns, it seems to be that way for so many people.

Take care. (Comment this)

15 - I AM NEW TO THIS BLOG. I HAVE BEEN ON SYNTHROID FOR MORE YEARS THAN I CAN REMEMBER. I WAS ALWAYS TAKINNG 125MCG AND LAST YEAR THE DOCTOR LOWERED ME TO 112.MY TSH FREE T4 WAS 0.323. IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR MY TSH FREE T4 WAS 0.165 AND SHE LOWERED MY DOSE TO 100MCG. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOOSE WEIGHT. I AM ON BYETTA. I LOST A LITTLE WEIGHT BEFORE I WAS ON 100MCG. THE LAB DESCRIBED MY 0.165 AS LOW. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP ON THIS IF ANYONE HAS AN ANSWER. THANK YOU, HELEN NV. (Comment this)

16 - jennifer ,

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease and went to see an herbalist. Withing 3 months, I have no more symptoms. He gave me herbs with beeftallow in it and after 3 bottles, I have energy and lost weight. [Brand name and phone number deleted.] Also, I get my blood checked regularly and I have not had any irregular thyroid tests in 7 years. It's worth a try. Good luck. (Comment this)

17 - Jackie Dickinson,
Both my wife and I are on Levothyroxine( generic a synthroid) I am also on Cytomel. I am new here so I am not sure if I can show you this web site

http://thyroid.about.com/

It will tell you everything you need to know about your thyroid, thryroid drugs, TSH and weight gain. (Comment this)

18 - HELEN NV.,
HELEN NV.,
Find out your thyroid test results from your doctor's office.
If you can, get a hard copy printout for your own review and home medical files.
If 'normal' or 'reference' ranges are not indicated on the lab results, ask your doctor's office to tell you what these ranges are.
Note the level of your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). At most labs in the U.S., the normal range is from around 0.5 to 5.5. However, as of spring 2003, some experts are recommending that labs revise the range from .3 to 3.0.

If the TSH level is below normal, your doctor may determine that you are hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid.)
If the TSH level is above normal, your doctor may determine that you are hypothyroid (underactive thyroid.)
If your doctor ran a test called Total T4 or Total Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 4.5 to 12.5. If you had a low reading, and a high TSH, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
If your doctor ran a test called Total T4 or Total Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 4.5 to 12.5. If you had a low reading, and a low TSH, your doctor might look into a pituitary problem.
If your doctor ran a test called Free T4, or Free Thyroxine, normal range is approximately 0.7 to 2.0. If your result was less than 0.7, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
If your doctor ran a test called Total T3, normal range is approximately 80 to 220. If your result was less than 80, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
If your doctor ran a test called Free T3, normal range is approximately 2.3 to 4.2. If your result was less than 2.3, your doctor might consider that indicative of hypothyroidism.
If your test results are 'normal' but you have many symptoms or risk factors for thyroid disease, ask for an antibodies test. Some doctors treatg thyroid symptoms in the presence of elevated antibodies and normal TSH levels.
If your test results come back 'normal' but you have many of the symptoms or risk factors for thyroid disease, consider going to a reputable holistic M.D. or alternative physician for further interpretation and diagnosis.

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/testsforthyroid/ht/interpretresult.htm (Comment this)

19 - Slight Fluctuations in TSH: Can They Affect Your Weight?
Research published in the May 2005 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism has finally put to rest a disagreement in the endocrinology world regarding whether or not even slight hypothyroidism can cause weight gain.
In the study, which looked more than 4600 people, the researchers looked at the connection between thyroid levels (measured by thyroid stimulating hormone -- TSH -- levels) and Body Mass Index (BMI) -- a calculation that looks at height compared to weight, and categorizes people as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese.

What they found was a positive association between BMI and TSH -- meaning that BMI rose as TSH rose -- and a negative association between BMI and Free T4, meaning that as Free T4 (a measure of circulating thyroid hormone in the bloodstream) rises, BMI tends to drop.

Even among people who had a so-called normal TSH level, those with the high end of normal TSH levels -- TSH 4.5 -- weighed approximately 12 pounds more than those who had a TSH on the low end of normal, with a median TSH of 0.28.

Overall, researchers concluded that thyroid function -- even when within normal range is a factor that helps determine body weight, and even slightly elevated TSH levels are associated with an increase in the occurrence of obesity.

Interestingly, thyroid function has the same impact on BMI as physical activity!

The researchers also found that even small variations in thyroid function -- within the normal range for Free T4 -- may contribute to the regulation of body weight in a population. It's thought that the circulating thyroid hormone may affect the body's "sleeping energy expenditure." According to the researchers,

 (Comment this)

20 - HELEN NV.,

I have no thyroid and it has been difficult to lose weight. The thyroid regulates the body's metabolism. I learned a lot from www.thyroid.about.com, including asking my doctor to prescibe a drug called Cytomel. I don't believe that Synthroid on it's own work for everyone. The thyroid is stimulated by the pituitary hormone TSH to produce two hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in the presence of iodide.
Ask your doctor for a complete lab workup of TSH, T3 and T4. They do not normally check the T3 so it may not be normal (Comment this)

21 - Could someone comment on which thyroid tests to get? I heard that T3 is more important than the others, and it is often ignored. (Comment this)

22 - Pat from LI,
Because each of us has a distinct set point for TSH, T3 and T4 levels, the general population references ranges are in fact too broad to detect changes to thyroid function that may represent disease in an individual.
Key Thyroid Function Tests
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/newsinfo/l/bltest_values.htm (Comment this)

23 - JimC,

Hi! I am also on Levothyroxine 0.175mg and now 10 mg of cytomel. I was not diabeteic until the cytomel was added becasue of a low T3 result and high TSH. Shortly after the 5 mg cytomel was added I began having symptoms of diabetes in September and early Oct was dx'ed with Type 2, started on Metformin and Amayrl. I am max'ed out on both currently and the BS is going wild now. Just started an additional 5mg of cytomel. Do you have any advise? Is the cytomel an antagonist for BS and insulin?
Thanks,
Carole (Comment this)

24 - I have type 2 diabetes, hypothyroid. I take nighttime insulin and levothyroxine 0.175 . My health has been generally decent.

Lately I have been having symptoms that follow along the lines of thyroid storm. 6 episodes in a year that go like this. I take my NPH long acting insulin and within minutes I feel as if I can't breathe. As I struggle to breathe it feels as if I am having an allergic reaction as fluids build in my lungs that I need to cough. I feel flush and warm, disoriented and scared. After 5-10 minutes and this feeling subsides I check my sugars. Every time within normal ranges to high mid teens (canadian levels). I then begin the cold shakes. As if I have the flu and can't get warm enough. My heart is racing. This is not like having low sugar shakes. As this occurs, ten minutes after checking my sugars for the first time, my sugars are now entering into lows, as low as 2. I then have to treat myself for low sugars, all the while the shaking/cold continues for near half hour. I've gone to the hospital after several episodes. They find nothing, and only treat me for low sugars. I have an appt with an endocrinologist in several weeks, but have been waiting forever. He has seen thyroid storm before and so we are hoping he will be able to find a rhyme and reason for what is happening to me. We have determined I am not allergic to my insulin, however it is a defining factor as it happens within minutes of taking it. So far it's felt it has something to do with my thyroid. From what I know of Thyroid storm, there are several indicators I do not fit into, I have hypo, not hyper thyroid..and I never get warmer than a flush.

Help, anything like this ever been diagnosed?? My docs are stumped so far.. (Comment this)

25 -

Advertisements from Google

And some messages from our sponsor...

(1) Please spend some time at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes.

(2) Be sure to tell your family, friends, support group, diabetes nurse educator, and your doctor about this website!

(3) Read the disclaimer about Google ads (on the right-side sidebar on every page).

(4) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so:

* How did you find this blog?

* Tell us about yourself!

(5) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls.

Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 (Comment this)

26 - Carole,

I never heard of that side effect, my diabetes was from being overweight, but being on Byetta I have lost a lot of weight, so now my doctor halved my cytomel. (Comment this)

27 - I've been diagnosed as hypothyroidism for 40 years and have been taking Amour Thyroid medication. About 6 years ago I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and my doctor prescribed Glucophage. My Sugar level has continued to increase and now I'm using Glucovance but to no avail. Additionally, now my TSH Level has dropped to 0.01. I'm at a loss as to what to do now. Is there a relationship between the Glucovance and the Thyroid medication. Can they be counteracting one another?Can anyone comment on these questions? (Comment this)

28 - S. Holmes,
Your doctor should know - but here is a list of intercations
http://diabetes.emedtv.com/glucovance/glucovance-drug-interactions.html

talk to your doctor. (Comment this)

29 - Carole,(Sorry for the dealy)
After being depressed on synthroid alone I started to read up on thyroid issues and I found out that Synthroid alone may not be the answer. I read all about Cytomel and made my dr prescribe it. The Cytomel made my quality of life so much better - no depression. But I continued to put on weight and I believe that was the reason
for the diabetes. Because after 6 months on Byetta and having lost 70 lbs, I am no longer showing high BS. In fact I may be noraml again. (Comment this)

30 - jim calvert,
If your doctor ran a test called Free T3, normal range is approximately 2.3 to 4.2.

I just had a Free T3 and it was 4.26 the doc will not do anything by way of medication until it is above 4.50, So it seems each doctor has there own ideas when it is not normal

My luck on top of everthing else me with no Insurance but I am very greatfull for the free clinic. They also found I need to start Lipitor.
, (Comment this)

31 -
As of June 1, 2008, the ability to post new comments at the Discussion Forums at Diabetes.Blog.com has been disabled. The old comments will remain available for you to read.

Please go to Diabetes Discussions to see new comments and to add your thoughts!

Instructions for posting comments may be found at Getting Started.

Thanks. (Comment this)