With type 1 diabetes, the body does not make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes both children and adults suddenly. There is no cure, but it can be managed.

With type 2 diabetes, the more common type, the body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in the blood.

It’s possible to develop prediabetes. This means happens when the blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Having prediabetes puts you at a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

Over time, having too much glucose in the blood can damage the eyes, kidneys and nerves. Diabetes can also cause heart disease and stroke.

Pregnant women can also get diabetes, called gestational diabetes, which is normally temporary, but can put the baby and mother at risk of complications at birth.

Blood tests can show if you have diabetes. Exercise, weight control and sticking to a meal plan can help control diabetes, in addition to monitoring blood glucose levels and taking medicine, if prescribed.

The providers at Eugene Endocrinology are here to help diagnose, treat and counsel patients on ways to manage their diabetes.

Other resources include the American Diabetes Organization, which offers helpful information for those diagnosed with diabetes, and Cascade Health in Eugene, which offers classes, support groups and a comprehensive list of organizations, books, magazines and websites to manage the disease through proper nutrition. To learn more about the latest treatments and efforts to develop a cure for type 1 diabetes, visit JDRF.

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Inflammation of the thyroid, such as can happen in subacute, lymphocytic and postpartum thyroiditis, can also lead to hypothyroidism.

There are medications that can also affect the thyroid (amiodarone, lithium, etc.). Some treatments for an overactive thyroid gland, such as radioactive iodine treatment and surgery, may also result in hypothyroidism. Problems with the pituitary gland, such as tumors, may lead to the condition, as well.

What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Constipation
Weight gain
Dry skin and hair
Heavy menstruation
Fatigue
Cold intolerance

The symptoms of hypothyroidism, though, are nonspecific and may also occur with other conditions.

Read about current and past treatment options for hypothyroidism, or contact us to make an appointment.

The post What are the causes and symptoms of hypothyroidism? appeared first on Eugene Endocrinology.

Most people notice an improvement in their symptoms within two weeks of starting treatment, however, if the problem is severe, it may take longer to take effect. It may also take some time for the doctor to determine the right level of medication to keep the hormone levels in check.

Drawbacks to treatment options
The thyroid produces two thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). In the past, before levothyroxine was synthesized, desiccated animal thyroid (Armour)—now mainly obtained from pigs—was the most common form of thyroid therapy. Since they are not purified, they contain hormones and proteins that never existed in the body outside the thyroid gland. While they also contain T4 and T3, the balance of T4 and T3 in animals is not the same as in humans, so the hormones in desiccated animal thyroid pills are not necessarily “natural” for the human body, nor are the chemicals that are used to hold the pill together.

Furthermore, there can be some variability in the amount of thyroid hormone per pill, which makes monitoring thyroid hormone levels challenging. There is no evidence that desiccated thyroid pill has any advantage over thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4).

Cytomel or T3 was also used before T4 was synthesized. Most of the T3 in the body comes from the conversion of T4 to T3, a process that is normal even in hypothyroid patients. T3 has a very short life span in the body. After taking a tablet of cytomel, there is a very high level of T3 for a short time, and then it falls rapidly. It is impossible not to have too much thyroid hormone in the body soon after taking T3. High T3 levels can lead to unpleasant symptoms, such as palpitations, anxiety and insomnia, and it can also cause harm to the heart and the bones. T3 should not be used alone in the treatment of hypothyroidism.

Some hormone preparations containing T4 and T3 (Thyrolar) are available in the United States. Combination T4/T3 contain much more T3 than what is normally produced by the body, which can produce the same side effects as taking T3 alone. It is a medication that is taken once a day, which ignores the short life span of T3 in the body.

Patient-specific treatment
Certain conditions may require adjustments in thyroid hormone treatment. In patients who are older or who have a weak heart, thyroid hormone may increase stress on the heart, so a lower dose is needed. Pregnant women may need higher doses; after the baby is delivered, the dose may need to be adjusted.

Patients are typically on thyroid hormone replacement medication for life. Regular follow up with an endocrinologist is necessary to ensure proper thyroid hormone levels.

See the post on causes and symptoms of hypothyroidism, and contact us with questions or to make an appointment.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck, just below the larynx, or voicebox. It produces two thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These two hormones regulate metabolism, which is how the body uses and stores energy. It also affects organs, from the digestive system to brain function and development.

The pituitary gland makes TSH, which regulates the amount of thyroid hormone made by the thyroid gland.

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