Patients with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of hypothyroidism, and, just as a diagnostic thyroid profile is typically taken on patients with type 1 diabetes, those with type 2 should also receive a thyroid screening, researchers said here on April 15 at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)

The cross-sectional study comparing 1,848 adult patients with type 2 diabetes with 3,313 individuals without diabetes, showed the prevalence of hypothyroidism on the study group to be 5.7% compared with 1.8% in the control group .

Although there is a recognised association between thyroid disease and diabetes, this association has been perceived mostly for type 1 diabetes
The study included patients who were enrolled in a private outpatient clinic in 2009, had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and were treated with levothyroxine, in addition to patients who were treated with the drug but did not have a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

Patients with a thyroid neoplasia, panhypopituitarism, or surgical complications of multinodular goiter or a thyroid nodule were excluded.
Thyroid dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes is about 10% to 31%, with subclinical hypothyroidism representing the most common thyroid condition, the researchers reported.

The association of type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism is consistent with an increased cardiovascular risk, and the findings underscore the importance of thyroid screening for all diabetic patients, the researchers concluded.

The benefit of early identification of both diseases has a significant impact on improving cardiovascular function, blood pressure, and lipid profile, thereby reducing long-term cardiovascular risk and improving quality of life for persons with diabetes.
Patients with type 2 diabetes should be evaluated by primary care physicians as are those with type 1 diabetes, where the initial evaluation includes the thyroidal profile and antibody screening,

Ref: http://www.docguide.com/hypothyroidism-shows-strong-association-type-2-diabetes-screening-recommended?hash=80445d1a&eid=19508&alrhash=2efbb8-880279c42369cc2f8adcb48a6daaf3d2