You may not have given much thought to the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck — but you should! Despite its small size, the thyroid gland is hugely important. It produces hormones that regulate metabolism, affecting nearly every cell in the body. So, there are huge health implications when too much or too little thyroid hormone is made.

Thyroid diseases are usually autoimmune in nature. Because people with diabetes are at higher risk of developing other autoimmune diseases, including thyroid disorders, you should be especially conscious of what your thyroid is up to. Having a thyroid disease can make your diabetes harder to control. Thyroid disorders also increase your risk of heart disease.

About 20 million Americans are living with thyroid conditions today. About 10 percent of people with diabetes have thyroid disease. It is more common in people with type 1 than type 2: up to 30 percent of people with type 1 diabetes have some form of thyroid disease. Read on to learn more!

Click here to download a printable PDF version of this slideshow.