| Summary: | <p><strong>Background: </strong>The association between autoimmune thyroid diseases and autoimmune diabetes is well established. However, the association between type 2 Diabetes and thyroid disease is unclear. Studies conducted on this topic worldwide have revealed varying results. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in a group of hypothyroid patients in Sri Lanka and to assess the relationship between severity and etiology of hypothyroidism with diabetes and impaired fasting glucose.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This descriptive (prospective) study was conducted at the Endocrine clinic, Teaching Hospital, Ragama over a period of 12 months, where all the new and follow up patients with hypothyroidism (both overt and subclinical hypothyroid patients) attending the clinic during this study period were included until the sample size is achieved. Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant data from the patient and from the clinic book. Fasting blood sugar was done for all patients. When FBS ≥ 100mg/dl, the test was repeated. For patients who had repeatedly elevated FBS ≥ 100mg/dl, Urine for micro albumin and serum creatinine were also checked. If the urine micro albumin was elevated, the test was repeated after 3 months. The presence of retinopathy was assessed by the ophthalmology team.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Majority of the study population consisted of females (91%). Mean age of the study population was 44.7 (SD – 12.1). 85.6% of the patients had overt hypothyroidism and 14.4% had subclinical hypothyroidism. The overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus among the study population was 15.6%. Prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was 31%. The prevalence of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose as well as dysglycaemia among patients with overt hypothyroidism and the subclinical hypothyroidism not significantly different (p-0.905, p-0.931, p-0.982). There was no significance difference between the etiology of hypothyroidism and in the prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (p- 0.079, p- 0.182 respectively). None of the newly diagnosed patients with diabetes had microvascular complications.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall prevalence of both overt and subclinical hypothyroidism was not associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the severity of hypothyroidism did not have an effect on the development of any form of hyperglycemia. There was no significant association between the etiology of hypothyroidism and in the prevalence of diabetes as well as impaired fasting glucose. Even though the age, the body mass index, the presence of hypertension and the family history were significantly associated with the development of diabetes mellitus, the gender and the sedentary lifestyle did not show a significant association with the development of diabetes in our study population.
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