“Two” Story

Male thyroid anatomy
Male thyroid anatomy

The world loves the power of 'two'. It takes two to tango, as they say. Every day, we see pairs. Husband and wife. Ying and Yang. Right and left. Twins. Even Jai and Veeru form a quintessential pair in the all-time classic movie Sholay!

Diabetes and Thyroid disease also form a pair. About 72 million people have Diabetes in India and 42 million Indians have thyroid disease. While the pancreas is a gland that controls the blood glucose levels and is dysfunctional in people with Diabetes, the thyroid is a little butterfly-shaped gland that controls the energy level and the functioning of tissues in the body. Diabetes and thyroid disorders are the most common endocrine diseases in the world. As they say, lions hunt in pairs. This is true for Diabetes and thyroid disease, as both may coexist.

About one-fourth of people with Type 1 Diabetes have thyroid disease, especially thyroid failure (called hypothyroidism). Correction of hypothyroidism may facilitate proper growth and academic performance in children with Type 1 Diabetes.

People with Type 2 Diabetes, the most common form of Diabetes, may have coexisting hypothyroidism (a very common thyroid disease). In people with Type 2 Diabetes, correcting hypothyroidism can often lead to an improvement in their body weight and cholesterol levels.

Luckily, both Diabetes and thyroid disease can be appropriately treated. Before I sign off, there's just one more thing (or rather two more!). Another 'two' story. This too, is true. In the last year, the world has recognised two new 'specialities' – Happiness and Loneliness. Interestingly, Britain has recently instituted a Ministry for Loneliness. This act is a testimony to the increasing loneliness felt in today's technology-obsessed world. On a positive note, the Yale University in the US has recently added a Happiness Course to their curriculum and the online version is gaining millions of views worldwide.

The Happiness Course and the Ministry for Loneliness are an inextricable twosome. Happiness is often found, not in being left alone, but in camaraderie and friendship.

On a lighter note, we at Diabetes Health wish to be part of the Ministry of Magic (thanks to author JK Rowling for coining the term). I mean that we will keep giving a positive spin to life and hope that you are magically kept happy and healthy! Always.

Dr Unnikrishnan AG

Editor

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