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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

A Zebrafish Model of Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Memory
Published on: February 28, 2013
Diabetes mellitus and thyroid diseases
1Division of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, Wakayama 641-8509 Japan.
Abstract:
Both diabetes mellitus and thyroid diseases are very common in the fields of endocrinology and metabolism. Coexistence of diabetes mellitus and thyroid diseases are frequently experienced. However, higher prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes compared with non-diabetics have been reported. Autoimmunity is a key to understand the link between type 1 diabetes and autoimmune thyroid diseases. And, this combination of autoimmune diseases is recognized as autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 3 variant. On the other hand, the relation between thyroid function and glucose intolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus is more complicated. Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism could be risk factors for glucose intolerance. In this review, current knowledge about the relationship between diabetes mellitus and thyroid diseases is described, which includes the following topics: effects of thyroid hormone on glucose metabolism, subclinical hypothyroidism and diabetic complications, type 1 diabetes and autoimmune thyroid diseases, and several clinical pitfalls in patients with both diseases.
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