Diabetes mellitus and thyroid disease are common endocrine disorders in the general population. To investigate the association between thyroid dysfunction, thyroid autoimmunity and Saudi type 2 diabetics, a random sample of 100 Saudi type 2 diabetics and 100 age- and sex-matched controls were studied. The mean age was 54 years for diabetics and 55 years for controls while the male:female ratios were 1:1.6 and 1:14 respectively. GAD65ab were found in 26% diabetics and 2% controls (p=0.001). Thyroid autoimmunity were detected in 10% diabetics vs. 5% controls (p=0.05), while thyroid dysfunction was found in 16% and 7% respectively (p=0.03). In GAD65ab-positive diabetics, thyroid autoimmunity was observed in 27% vs. 4% GAD65ab-negative diabetics (p=0.02) and thyroid dysfunction was reported in 42% and 7% respectively. We conclude that thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity are common in Saudi type 2 diabetics. Further studies are needed on the cost effectiveness of thyroid screening in diabetics.

To determine the causative organisms, antimicrobial susceptibility, and outcome of community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia in diabetics and to compare this with non-diabetics, sputum cultures done at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in the period between January 1998 and December 1999 were reviewed. A total of 354 cases were studied, of which 125 (35%) were diabetics. Diabetic patients were older with a male predominance compared to non-diabetics. H. influenza was the commonest pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in both diabetics and non-diabetics, but there was a predominance of Staphylococcus aureus in diabetics compared to non-diabetics. Gram-negative bacilli were the commonest pathogens in hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in both diabetics and non-diabetics. Ampicillin, co-amoxyclav, flouroquinolones, second-generation cephalosporins and erythromycin were used empirically in CAP while aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones and imipenem were used in HAP in both diabetics and non-diabetics. No significant difference in mortality was found between diabetics and non-diabetics, for either CAP or HAP.