Goiter and hypothyroidism in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disorder in children. Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is frequently associated with type I diabetes in children. With respect to the unknown prevalence of goiter and hypothyroidism in the region, the present study was performed to determine the prevalence of goiter and hypothyroidism in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. For this cross sectional study, 72 children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus were enrolled. A complete history was obtained and physical examination was performed. They had no other systemic disease and all of them were on NPH insulin. Goiter was evaluated according to the EHO criteria, meanwhile, T4 and TSH were checked by radioimmunoassay. Goiter was reported in 69.4%, among whom 7% had hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism was also reported in 1.3%. Of 5 children with hypothyroidism, 4 had height below the 5th percentile (p<0.05). Goiter and hypothyroidism may be found in diabetics, on the other hand, deceleration of growth may also be associated with thyroid failure, thus, we recommend routine screening of hypothyroidism in diabetic children annually.