Hi - I’m new here and thought I would introduce myself and ask a question. My name is Stephanie and my daughter and her dad both have type 1. She was diagnosed 3 years ago at 23 months, he was diagnosed 25 years ago at age 10.
My daughter was also diagnosed with hyperthyroid (Grave’s disease) last year. I was wondering if anyone else out there is dealing with diabetes and thyroid disease? I knew she was more susceptible to other autoimmune disease being diabetic - but it threw me for loop when she came down with Grave’s at age 3. Even the Endo was surprised - she said the youngest they usually see it is adolesence.
i had tyroid cancer , my oldest son, now 6½ have had diabetes since 4 days before his second birthday. My husband was diagnosed with diabetes type 1 at the age of 12.
Every year they check my son for both thyroid diseases and gluten ( if the word is not the same in swedish as in english i mean allergies towards wheat flour protein )…in Sweden all doctors agree on if a child gets diabetes at an early age it will probably within a few years develope glutenallergi, diary allergy or some kind of thyriod disease…
too bad your daughter has both diabetes and graves. Since i took out my thyroid glands i think i know what i feels like to be a diabetic without actually beeing one…i have problems with my bloodsugar post partum my operation and feel the cravings for foods or detests foods… So far so good, my son has severe other allergies than those connected to diabetes, but he has not developed allergies towards gluten and has not yet showed any signs of thyroid disease…
I was diagnosed with Graves when I was 26 yrs. old, but I was fortunate and it went into remission without being treated with radiation or surgery. My daughter was diagnosed last year with Type I when she was 4 yrs old. I don’t know if there is a connection and I’m fortunate not to have to be dealing with both issues. I always assumed the link to my duaghter’s diabetes had something to do with my history of Graves though. They regularly test her for thyroid issues – I don’t know if that is the norm or if it is because of my history with it.
Hi Stephanie,
My son is type 1 since he was 9 - now 14 and doing great. Recently he was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and although it’s a tough pill to swallow (no pun intended) we all simply look at it as treatable and not a big deal. My son has actually been starting to lose some weight since being treated without changing anything else. My wife and I feel this is something he and we can all manage and live with and just keep hoping for the cure. Graves seems to be a much more treatable disease than the name applies. Maybe they should change the name.
I think your daughter will do great, her Mom is involved, her Dad is experienced and the medical technology is improving each day. Soon we’ll have a “parents who had kids with type 1” group.
So sorry such a young baby is going through all this! Not at all fair. My niece, 11 years, has been dealing with Hashimotos thyroiditis, in addition to Type 1. I do not consider Hashimotos to have interfered with her lifestyle in any way. She just has to take one Synthroid pill (half of one, VERY small) at the same time each evening before bed. I do not know much about Grave’s, though I understand it may be the more difficult of the two diagnoses. Hope the Graves can be kept under tight control and no more surprises for you or your little one!
My youngest son was diagnosis with Hypothyroidism and Type 1 @ the same time. I have noticed since he has started to take the medication his mental development has improved 10 fold (I cant believe the difference a little pill can make ) The endo say now we have to keep a close eye on my older son because since he is also type 1 he has a chance of getting it too.
Have you had her checked for celiac disease? Autoimmune diseases tend to come in groups, and celiac and Type 1 diabetes are particularly aligned. Another thing to watch for is vitamin D deficiency–many diabetic kids have low vitamin D levels, and if you live in the north it’s particularly common. My endo checked Eric’s levels the day he was diagnosed, and when I asked him why he said “because we’re in Maine, and everyone here is vitamin D deficient, and that’s probably what triggered it” (meaning, Eric was likely developing T1D all summer, but once the sun went too far south for him to make vitamin D, that was the last straw and the symptoms started.) I’ve been researching it and you’d be amazed at how many problems a little more vitamin D can improve!
Most endos regularly test for thyroid and celiac because diabetics are more prone to it. Her endo noticed her thyroid was enlarged during a regular visit and sent us right to the blood lab. She’s been on tapazole twice a day since June 2007. Just this week her routine blood test was positve for celiac so now we’re waiting for the biopsy to confirm it. Yikes - at this rate she’s acquiring a new auto-immune disease every 2 years!
Elizabeth - that’s funny that you mention celiac. She gets screened yearly by her endo office. She was just screened on Dec. 29th and it came back positive. She’s scheduled for a biopsy on March 2nd. She has no symptoms and we never would have known if not for the blood test. Thanks about the info on Vitamin D - I’ll check into that. We live in northeast too.
Elizabeth, In your research of vitamin D have you come across any study that has looked at whether it could extend a honeymoon phase? If low vitamin D levels effect onset of T1 it stands to reason that it might help keep those few remaining beta cells healthy? I am thinking that maybe vitamin D supplements might be a good thing if levels are low; something to ask our CDE about next time we see her. We live in Arkansas so chances are that his levels are just fine but it is something to check on along with the thyroid and celiac disease.
I just want to tell you that I am sorry for your troubles. When it rains it pours, huh? I don’t have any medical advice, sorry. My 16-year-old was diagnosed three years ago with Type 1 Diabetes, and I’ve had hypothyroidism for about ten years (since age 32); but the rest of this stuff is new to me. I hope things get brighter for her soon! You have a lovely smile and a great attitude. I will keep you in my prayers.
