Hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome are two conditions which are commonly found together. Thyroid patients with hypothyroidism are at an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and other metabolic disorders such as diabetes. These metabolic disorders often lead to even more serious health problems such as heart disease, elevated cholesterol, and hypertension.
The good news is that metabolic syndrome can usually be avoided by improving your diet and exercising regularly. By eliminating refined sugars, cutting back on unhealthy fats, and limiting simple carbohydrates such as pies, cakes, and soft drinks you can significantly reduce your chances of developing both hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome. Eating more complex carbs such as fruits, vegetable, nuts & grain help to keep your weight down and lessen your chance of developing insulin resistance. Exercising a minimum of 30 minutes a day will help you to avoid many health problems, and make you feel better both mentally and physically in them mean time.
Understanding Hypothyroidism and Metabolic Syndrome
When you eat too many carbs the pancreas secretes insulin. Insulin is a hormone which moves excess glucose from the blood into the cells. This is how your body produces energy. However, if you eat too many carbs too often, the cells lose the ability to respond to insulin and no longer take in the blood sugar for energy. The pancreas responds to this by pumping out more insulin.
This may work for a while, but eventually the cells do not respond at all, this is called insulin resistance. Insulin surges such as this increase the destruction of the thyroid gland. As the thyroid gland is being destroyed, thyroid hormone production fails. This is how high blood sugar can weaken thyroid function.
Low blood sugar levels can also cause thyroid dysfunction. When blood sugar levels become too low, the adrenal glands respond by secreting a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol tells the liver to produce more glucose, in order to bring blood sugars back to normal. However, cortisol also curbs other functions such as digestion, growth, and reproduction. One of the functions that become suppressed is the pituitary function, without which your thyroid cannot function properly.
Hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome are related in many different ways. Just as an imbalance can cause thyroid dysfunction, low thyroid function can cause metabolic syndrome and other metabolic disorders. In fact, studies show an increasing frequency of thyroid disorders in diabetics as well as a high prevalence of obesity in people with thyroid disorders.
Thyroid disorders cause glucose to be taken in by cells more slowly as well as a decrease in the rate that the gut takes in glucose. Thyroid conditions also cause a slower insulin response and a slower clearance of insulin in the blood. So, not only does the thyroid need balanced glucose levels to function properly, but the body needs a functioning thyroid to regulate glucose levels as well (Criskresser.com, 2012).
