Diabetes mellitus and primary hyperparathyroidism

Abstract

Summary Eight patients suffering from primary hyperparathyroidism and diabetes mellitus are reported. All of the patients are female. The clinical problems resulting from the co-existence of these two endocrine disorders and the similarity of their symptoms are discussed. The experience from a large diabetic clinic population suggests that the association of hyperparathyroidism with diabetes merits further investigation.

Insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity and hepatic insulin extraction in primary hyperparathyroidism before and after surgery

“…It is generally known that patients with primary hyperparathyroidism have disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism: in particular, hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance are characteristic early metabolic aberrations of this disease (Kim et al, 1971;Yasuda et al, 1975;Harter et al, 1976;Prager et al, 1983Prager et al, , 1990). In addition, primary hyperparathyroidism significantly increases the risk of developing overt glucose intolerance or even frank diabetes mellitus (Dent, 1962;Ljunghall et al, 1983;Werner et al, 1974;Cheung et al, 1986;Birge, 1969;Walsh et al, 1975).…”

Endocrine abnormalities in primary hyperparathyroidism

“…In the present series, 4 % were found to be thyrotoxic. Of these 3 patients, 2 were diabetic, an association not previously reported although Walsh, Soler and Malins (1975) reported for the first time the association of hypothyroidism, diabetes and primary hyp-rparathyroidism.…”

Parathyroid carcinoma presenting as hyperosmolar coma

“…Insulin resistance has been demonstrated in hyperparathyroidism (Kim et al, 1971) and in this context, the improvement in diabetic control of the patient postoperatively is of interest. Even though the prevalence of primary hyperparathyroidism in diabetes has been estimated at 1/1200 cases (Walsh, Soler and Malins, 1975), there would seem to be no basis for considering the coexistence of the disorders to be more than coincidental in this patient.…”