Hashimoto's, Blood Sugar & Your Health

Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid gland and can effect the whole body.  Hashimoto's slow metabolism which can result in weight gain, fatigue, and sensitivity to cold.  It can contribute to high cholesterol, slowed heart rate, and increased risk of heart disease. You can have symptoms of muscle weakness, aches, joint pain, and stiffness. It can effect the nervous system by causing depression, memory problems, difficulty concentration, and numbness and tingling in the extremities.  Common digestive symptoms are constipation.  Women can have irregular/heavy menstrual periods and fertility problems.  In men it can cause reduced libido. It causes dry skin, hair loss or thinning, and brittle nails.

Since Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disorder, it puts you at risk of having other autoimmune diseases.   Rheumatoid Arthritis, Type 1 Diabetes, Lupus, Celiac Disease, Pernicious  Anemia, Sjogren's Syndrome, Addison's Disease, Vitiglio, and Grave's Disease are often autoimmune disease's associated with Hashimoto's.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can affect blood sugar levels in several ways due to its impact on metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and overall hormone regulation. 

This could explain why your A1C is higher even though I am active and eat well. 


I found this interesting so I copied this from a ChatGPT search I did.

How Hashimoto’s Affects Blood Sugar:

  1. Slower Metabolism & Insulin Resistance – Hypothyroidism (common with Hashimoto’s) slows down metabolism, which can lead to reduced insulin sensitivity. This means your body may not use insulin efficiently, leading to higher blood sugar levels and potentially increased A1C.

  2. Cortisol & Stress Response – Thyroid dysfunction can affect adrenal hormones, including cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels can increase blood sugar levels by triggering glucose release from the liver.

  3. Gastrointestinal Issues & Gut Health – Hashimoto’s is often linked to gut dysbiosis and leaky gut, which can influence glucose metabolism and cause blood sugar fluctuations.

  4. Delayed Glucose Absorption – Hypothyroidism can slow digestion and carbohydrate absorption, sometimes leading to delayed glucose spikes after meals.

  5. Autoimmune Link with Type 1.5 Diabetes (LADA) – Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease, and people with one autoimmune condition have a higher risk of developing others, such as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), which can affect insulin production.

What You Can Do:

  • Monitor Blood Sugar Patterns – If your A1C remains high, tracking blood sugar responses to meals might help pinpoint any triggers.

  • Protein & Fiber-Rich Meals – These can help stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent post-meal spikes.

  • Exercise Timing – Since you exercise daily, adjusting workout timing around meals might help improve glucose metabolism.

  • Check Thyroid Medication & Levels – If TSH is too high, it can contribute to insulin resistance. Keeping thyroid hormones optimized might help regulate blood sugar.

  • Manage Stress & Sleep – Poor sleep and chronic stress can both impact blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity.


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