Evaluation of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and Free Thyroxine among Diabetes Mellitus Patients at Shendi Locality, Sudan

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Thyroid disease is found commonly in most forms of diabetes and is associated with advanced age, particularly in type 2 diabetes and underlying autoimmune disease in type 1 diabetes.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate TSH and Free T4 among Diabetes Mellitus Patients in the Shendi locality, from August to December 2021.

Methodology: The present study was a case-control study. Conducted in the Shendi locality, from August to November 2021. Convenience sampling technique was used to include a total of 50 participants in this study of which 30 Sudanese patients with diabetes mellitus were enrolled as cases group and 20 healthy Sudanese were enrolled as control group. Blood samples were collected from each subject and estimated for the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 (FT4) using the 360 Automated Immunoassay Analyzer (TOSOH). And the results were analyzed using the computer program SPSS (Social Science Statistical Package).

Results: The result of this study showed that the mean concentration of TSH and Free T4 level in the diabetic subjects was (Mean ± SD): (1.6 ± 0.99) (13.5 ± 2.3) and control (2.0 ± 0.81) (12.5 ± 2.0) respectively with P. value =0.148, 0.124 which is insignificant. Also showed the mean concentration of TSH and FT4 according to gender is (1.6, 14.7) respectively for males (1.7, 12.7), and a female with P. value (0.718 for TSH which is insignificant) and (0.016 of Free T4 which is significant). Diabetes has an insignificant association with TSH and Free T4 levels, with P values (0.417, 0.277). Furthermore, there is a significant relationship between the presence of hypertension and the levels of TSH and FreeT4 with P. value (0.043, 0.018).

Conclusion: There is no statistical difference between TSH and FT4 levels between cases and controls. There was a ssocition between FT4 levels and gender, with FT4 being higher in females than in males. FT4 is significantly elevated in patients with a family history of diabetes. No significant difference in FT4 levels by age.