Doctors that specialize on glands and the hormones they produce are known as endocrinologist. They deal with metabolism, which refers to all of the metabolic functions that your body does, such as the conversion of food into energy and growth.
They could work with children or adults. They are known as pediatric endocrinologists when they focus on treating youngsters.
They address a wide range of ailments that have an impact on you, identifying and treating:
- The adrenal glands, which are located on top of the kidneys and regulate sex hormones, metabolism, blood pressure, and stress responses
- Osteoporosis and bone metabolism
- Cholesterol
- Your brain’s hypothalamus, which regulates your body’s temperature, appetite, and thirst
- The pancreas produces compounds for digestion, including insulin.
- Small glands in your neck called the parathyroids regulate the blood’s calcium levels.
- The pituitary, a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain, regulates hormone levels.
- Ovaries in women and testes in males are reproductive glands (gonads).
- Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that regulates your energy levels, metabolism, and the growth and development of your brain.
Internal medicine specialists who have completed an extra certification test are known as endocrinologists.
They spend four years in undergrad and another four in medical school. After that, students spend three years working as residents in hospitals and clinics to get experience providing medical care. They will then devote a further two to three years to endocrinology-specific training.
Typically, the whole procedure takes at least ten years.
A specialist in endocrinology may work in a group of endocrinologists who practice medicine, a collection of physicians of various specialties.
Hospitals
On the website of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, you may conduct a search for one.
Not everyone sees patients. They could be employed by universities or medical schools, where they conduct research or instruct medical residents and students.
Your primary care physician can manage your diabetes, but they could suggest an endocrinologist if:
You need to learn how to control your diabetes since you just got it.
They have little expertise in managing diabetes.
You often inject yourself or use an insulin pump.
Either managing your diabetes has become difficult, or your therapy isn’t working.
Diabetes has caused issues for you.
Even if your doctor doesn’t initially recommend it, you may always request to see an endocrinologist. You’ll still need to see your regular physician after seeing one. They will collaborate.
Your endocrinologist will inquire about your general well-being, diabetes management practices, and any difficulties you may be experiencing.
Bring your blood glucose logs or a notebook with you, and make sure to update your endocrinologist on your current situation. What has changed since you last saw them?
- Symptoms
- switching up your diet
- exercising more or
- less
- recently unwell
- started consuming any
- medications,
- supplements, or
- vitamins
The likelihood is that they’ll want to examine your feet, blood pressure, and urine and cholesterol levels.
If you need insulin, your diabetes doctor should likely visit you every three to four months. In any other case, you may wait 4 to 6 months between appointments. When you have problems, uncontrolled diabetes, new symptoms, or symptoms that worsen, you may need to see the doctor more often.