Coexistence of diabetes and hypothyroidism in South India

Diabetes mellitus coexisting with primary hypothyroidism is believed to be rare. Seventy-nine such cases were seen between 1960 and 1973. Statistically this association appears to be more frequent than the separate frequencies of the two disease warrant. The patients were mostly females, and invariably obese. Diabetes preceded hypothyroidism in the majority of cases. This frequent association is presumed to be of autoimmune origin.