Can thyroid medication affect blood sugar?
Guest Post for Well With Sarah Written by Paloma Health
In this article, you will learn:
What does the thyroid do?
Common thyroid conditions
How the thyroid regulates blood sugar levels
How thyroid medication affects blood sugar
Tips for stabilizing your blood sugar
One of the main ways we regulate our metabolism is through blood sugar (also called glucose). If you have a thyroid condition, you may be surprised to know that both your thyroid condition and your thyroid hormone replacement medication may impact your blood sugar levels. This is because the thyroid gland plays an integral role in regulating the body’s metabolism. Here, we examine how thyroid medication affects your blood sugar levels and what you can do to keep your metabolism running optimally.
What does the thyroid do?
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the nape of your neck. This critical organ produces thyroid hormone (referred to as T4 and T3) that is secreted throughout your body. The pituitary gland in the brain dictates thyroid hormone production. It releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which tells the thyroid how much hormone to make and release into the bloodstream. Your TSH level is one of the primary measurements for assessing thyroid function as it tells us a lot about how well the thyroid is operating.
When thyroid hormone enters the bloodstream, it attaches to cells all over the body to tell them how to utilize energy. Because of its role in metabolism, thyroid hormones affect your:
Heart rate
Blood pressure
Digestive function
Muscle function
Bone maintenance, and
Brain development.
Thyroid hormones also tell your body how many calories to burn, which makes it a key contributor to weight control. Because thyroid hormone affects every cell in your body, problems with the thyroid gland can show up in every body system. From your muscles and joints to your brain and heart, thyroid diseases can cause system-wide problems.
Common thyroid conditions
Two primary disease states affect the thyroid gland: hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland releases too much thyroid hormone, eventually speeding up the body’s metabolism.
Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
Unintentional weight loss
Abnormal heart rhythm
Increased appetite
Nervousness, anxiety, or irritability
Tremors
Sweating
Irregular menstrual patterns
Increased sensitivity to heat
Changes in bowel patterns
Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Difficulty sleeping
Thin skin
Fine, brittle hair
Hypothyroidism is the condition of an underactive thyroid gland, where the thyroid gland cannot produce enough thyroid hormone, causing the metabolism to slow down.
Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
Fatigue
Cold intolerance
Constipation
Dry skin
Weight gain
Puffy face
Hoarseness
Muscle weakness
Elevated blood cholesterol level
Muscle aches, tenderness, or stiffness
Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
Heavier or irregular menstrual periods
Thinning hair
Slowed heart rate
Depression
Impaired memory
Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
The leading cause of hypothyroidism in the United States is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition in which the body mistakenly attacks thyroid cells, causing inflammation. Over time, this constant attack makes the thyroid unable to produce thyroid hormone.
To understand how your thyroid is functioning, you can take an at-home thyroid blood test. Many labs only look at thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Still, it’s important to also measure free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), and TPO antibodies to understand the big picture of what’s happening with your thyroid function, and where specifically to make improvements.
You can take $30 off your first purchase of an at-home thyroid test kit with coupon code WELLWITH (case sensitive) on Paloma Health’s website.
How the thyroid regulates blood sugar levels
Due to its role in metabolism, the thyroid gland helps direct how much glucose cells should take in from the blood. Glucose (blood sugar) provides quick energy that cells can use to function. This sugar comes directly from our diet.
When we eat, glucose enters our bloodstream, and insulin (a hormone released by the pancreas) helps our cells take glucose in and use it for energy. Before glucose enters cells, our blood glucose levels are elevated because it has yet to be used. Once cells take in glucose, our levels normalize.
When the thyroid is not working correctly, it can change the rate cells use glucose. For example, people with hyperthyroidism use insulin more quickly, causing glucose to remain in the blood. Thus, this group may be at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes because of chronically elevated blood sugar levels.
On the contrary, insulin lingers for more prolonged periods in people with hypothyroidism. Thus, having low blood sugar is common and can sometimes become a dangerous problem.
Intriguingly, thyroid disease and diabetes often show up together in the same person. Indeed, having metabolic syndrome or type 1 or type 2 diabetes increases your risk of developing a thyroid disease - and vice versa. In addition, your risk further increases if you are overweight or obese.
How thyroid medication affects blood sugar
Because thyroid medication helps regulate your thyroid hormone (and ultimately your metabolism), people taking it may experience blood sugar changes.
One of the most common types of prescription medication for hypothyroidism is levothyroxine. This medication provides synthetic thyroid hormone to increase T3 and T4 thyroid hormone levels. However, because it increases your metabolism, it can cause blood sugar levels to elevate slightly.
For people with diabetes who take insulin, levothyroxine treatment can interfere with your insulin medication, as it reduces its effectiveness at regulating blood sugar. Thus, if you are on insulin, you may need to work with your healthcare provider to increase your dose to accommodate changes in your metabolic rate.
While there is a potential interaction between levothyroxine (and other synthetic T4 and/or T3 medications), know that many people take both medications effectively. Be sure to tell your doctor that you are on both types of drugs so they can direct you on how to adjust your insulin dosing and check your blood sugar levels. You will likely need to check your blood sugar as directed by your doctor diligently.
If you do not have diabetes or take insulin, you may still experience changes in your blood sugar levels when taking levothyroxine. Therefore, it is helpful to ask your provider to test your hemoglobin A1c, which tells you your average blood sugar over the past 3 months.
Tips for stabilizing your blood sugar
Keeping your blood sugar levels stable is essential for your overall health and wellbeing. And, if you have a thyroid condition, blood sugar control is even more pertinent.
To keep your blood sugar stable when taking thyroid medication, you will want to do the following:
Regularly monitor your thyroid function with an at-home thyroid test.
Take your thyroid medication as prescribed.
Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet rich in protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Natural food sources like vegetables, fruits, legumes, seed grains, and animal meat are ideal sources to get the nutrients you need.
Avoid excess sugar intake, especially in sources with refined sugars or alcohol.
Get plenty of exercise daily, and be sure to add in moderate activity a few times a week.
Check hemoglobin A1c levels annually or as recommended by your doctor.
Monitor blood sugar levels as prescribed by your doctor if you have a metabolic condition.
Practice stress management by implementing good sleep habits and self-care.
About Paloma Health
Paloma Health is the first online medical practice focused exclusively on testing and treating hypothyroidism. The company offers access to at-home thyroid tests, virtual consultations with thyroid doctors and nutritionists, and prescription and supplement management for an integrated health experience.
