Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus
Content
Description
Endocrinology is part of internal medicine, dealing with endocrine glands and hormones.
An endocrinologist examines:
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary, pineal gland
- Thyroid and parathyroid glands
- Pancreas
- Adrenal glands
- Sex glands (ovaries and testicles) and their hormones
Facts
- Outpatient examination
- Examination lasts 30 minutes
The endocrine system is one of the control systems of the human body. It is made up of endocrine glands that produce hormones. Hormones travel through the blood to other organs and act on their receptors. We distinguish the following glands and their most important hormones:
- Hypothalamus (TRH, CRH, GnRH, GHRH, somatostatin, dopamine)
- Pituitary gland (TSH, ACTH, prolactin, GH - growth hormone, ADH, oxytocin, FSH and LH)
- Pineal gland (melatonin)
- Thyroid gland (T3 - triiodothyronine, T4 - thyroxine, calcitonin)
- Parathyroid glands (parathormone)
- Pancreatic gland (insulin and glucagon)
- Adrenal glands (cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, aldosterone)
- Sex glands (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone)
The name endocrine means that the glands secrete hormones into the blood (the opposite is the case with exocrine glands, which secrete substances outside the body). Different types of hormones are needed for the fine control of the entire body. Abbreviations are often used in their names (e.g. FSH - follicle stimulating hormone).
The endocrinologist will consult and examine the patient, indicating:
- Special blood and urine samples for the purpose of examining hormone levels - changes in their amount are a sign of disease
- Ultrasound (sonography) of the thyroid gland and abdominal organs
- Stress tests (e.g., a hormone is administered and the reaction is monitored)
- Suppression tests (the reaction to the suppression of hormone production is monitored)
The most common symptoms of endocrine system disorders include:
- Fatigue, weight changes
- Changes in pulse (rapid pulse - tachycardia, slow pulse - bradycardia)
- Sleep disorders, mood swings
- Digestive, respiratory and excretory disorders
- Growth disorders in children
- Thinning of bones and osteoporosis
The most common diseases treated by an endocrinologist include:
- Thyroid diseases: hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis (thyrotoxicosis), Graves' disease
- Acromegaly and growth disorders in pituitary dysfunction
- Calcium level disorders in parathyroid diseases
- Cushing's syndrome and Addison's disease in adrenal disease
- POC (Polycystic ovary syndrome), infertility, hypogonadism in gonadal diseases
- Diabetes insipidus in hypothalamic disorder
- Diabetes mellitus (lack of insulin)
