The length should be out to the end of the toe. Yes, thyroid problems are more common in children with diabetes. Likewise, the people with diabetes who develop thyroid problems have an antibody in their blood against the thyroid gland. Both the pancreas and the thyroid are endocrine glands that make the hormones insulin and thyroid hormone, respectively. Thus, the two glands have much in common.
Some physicians recommend thyroid blood tests yearly in children with diabetes.
The practice in our Clinic is to do the tests if the thyroid gland is large or if there is a special indication, such as a fall-off in height. Fortunately, when low thyroid function is detected, it can be treated with a tablet. Also, the pills can sometimes be discontinued after a few years. Thus, most people handle the problem easily. There are things that we can do now to help reduce the likelihood of kidney problems.