Endocrinology & Diabetes

Endocrine and Metabolic Conditions We Treat

Diabetes. Expert diagnosis, treatment and educational programs for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as gestational diabetes.

Osteoporosis. Comprehensive care and management of osteoporosis, which causes weak, brittle bones and can result from hormone imbalances.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Our endocrinologists work as part of a multidisciplinary team to diagnose and manage pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Parathyroid disorders. Diagnosis and treatment of a full range of parathyroid conditions, including hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism and parathyroid tumors.

Pituitary tumors. Coordinated treatment with neurosurgery and radiology specialists to provide multidisciplinary care for pituitary tumors, which develop on your pituitary gland.

Reproductive disorders. Diagnosis and treatment of reproductive disorders that are related to hormonal imbalances, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypogonadism.

Thyroid disorders. Coordinated treatment for all thyroid conditions, including thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

Am I at Risk for Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not process the glucose (sugar) from food because you are lacking the hormone insulin or don’t use it properly. High levels of blood glucose can cause serious complications.

Risk Factors for Diabetes

Age, race and family history of diabetes are all factors that can increase your risk. Other factors that put you at higher risk for diabetes include: 

• Acanthosis nigricans (dark, velvety patches of skin on the back of your neck, belly or arms)
• Being overweight
• Diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes)
• High blood pressure
• Heart or blood vessel disease
• Lack of physical activity 
• Low levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol, or a high level of triglycerides
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Smoking

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

• Blurry vision
• Extreme fatigue
• Frequent infections: urinary, yeast, skin
• Increased hunger
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Unintentional weight loss
• Slow healing bruises or cuts
• Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hand or feet

Early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes is important to preventing and managing complications. If you are at risk for diabetes, or experience any of the above symptoms, talk to your doctor about being screened for diabetes.

Types of Diabetes

• Type 1 Diabetes: The body does not produce insulin or makes only a small amount. About 10 percent of people with diabetes have type 1. Also referred to as “insulin-dependent diabetes” or “juvenile diabetes” because it often, though not always, develops during childhood or adolescence.
• Type 2 Diabetes: The body does not use insulin properly and requires more than the body produces. Type 2 diabetes represents 80-90 percent of diabetes cases. 
• Prediabetes: Your health care provider may tell you that you have prediabetes. This is when your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to diagnose type 2 diabetes. It doesn’t mean that you will develop type 2 diabetes. Often changes in diet and physical activity can delay or prevent diabetes.
• Gestational Diabetes: Diabetes can occur in nearly 10 percent of pregnancies, when the mother does not produce enough or use the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Our experienced team of maternal fetal experts will help you manage your pregnancy to ensure the health of you and your baby.
• Diabetes from Other Causes: While rare, diabetes can develop for other reasons. Our experience with all types of diabetes helps us diagnose these rare cases, including:
• Pancreatic dysfunction due to pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis and other conditions
• Drug or chemical-induced diabetes, such as with glucocorticoid used to treat HIV/AIDS or prevent organ transplant rejection
• Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) and other monogenic diabetes syndromes (caused by one genetic mutation) Learn More at Diabetes Care for Children and Adolescents

Complications Caused By Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not process the glucose (sugar) from food because you don’t produce the hormone insulin or use it properly. High levels of blood glucose, if left untreated, can lead to serious complications such as: 

• Amputations
• Blindness
• Complications during pregnancy
• Dental disease
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Kidney Disease
• Nerve Diseas
• Stroke

In fact, diabetes continues to be the number one cause of new blindness, kidney disease and amputation.