Now, here's some theories to float. It seems likely that hypothyroidism, with its penchant for slowing down everything else in our systems, also slows down our body's ability to process carbohydrates. Hence, the carbos we could eat pre-thyroid problems now are too much for our systems to handle. Stress from chronic physical illness is raising cortisol, which raises insulin. Any illness, such as the chronic thyroid problems we all face, creates physical stress.
Stress raises cortisol levels.
And increased cortisol increases insulin levels. There's also a vicious circle aspect to this. Ultimately, some doctors believe that if your adrenal glands are stronger than your pancreas, this can potentially lead to diabetes. Here's where it gets even more interesting. Inhibits platelet clumping, reducing the risk of clots.