The thyroid is a gland in the neck, situated just below the Adam’s apple, which produces hormones to regulate the body’s metabolism (the chemical reactions that occur in the body’s cells to convert food into energy). There are two types of thyroid disorder: hypothyroidism (where the body doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones) and hyperthyroidism (where it produces too much).
Symptoms include the following:
Hypothyroidism
- tiredness
- feeling cold all the time
- constipation
- more frequent hypos.
Hyperthyroidism
- weight loss
- feeling warm all the time
- diarrhoea.
However, it is common for children not to have any symptoms, so your child should have a blood test to check that their thyroid is working properly when they are first diagnosed with diabetes and then every year.
What can cause thyroid problems?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body’s cells attack the pancreas and destroy the insulin-producing cells. In a similar way, thyroid conditions can occur if the body’s cells attack the thyroid. For this reason, thyroid problems are more common in people who have Type 1 diabetes, particularly hypothyroidism.
How are they treated?
Unfortunately, like diabetes, neither hypo- nor hyperthyroidism can be cured, but both can be treated successfully with tablets.
Action points
- Did your chid get a blood test to check their thyroid hormone levels when they were diagnosed with diabetes? If not, ask for one.
- Make sure your child gets a blood test for thyroid hormone levels every year as part of their annual review.