A local endocrinologist is a physician who treats patients with hormone disorders. People who are obese (typically described as someone with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more) may be overweight due to a hormone disorder, so they may work with a local endocrinologist. For example, hypothyroidism (an under-active thyroid gland) may cause obesity. Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be overweight or obese. PCOS is a condition that causes the ovaries to produce an abnormal amount of male sex hormones (androgens). Also, obesity is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. A local endocrinologist works with people who have type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

A local endocrinologist can help you understand more about eating a low-glycemic diet or anti-inflammatory diet, prescribe medications including obesity medications, recommend weight loss surgery, help prevent conditions related to obesity and more. Your local endocrinologist can refer you to other health care providers as needed, whether it’s a local registered dietitian to help you reduce calories in a healthy way or a local kinesiologist or fitness trainer to customize an exercise plan. It’s essential to see your healthcare team regularly, especially as type 1 diabetes complications can lead to serious problems with your heart, nerves, eyes, kidneys and blood vessels.

Type 1 diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, increased thirst, fatigue and blurred vision. Often, when people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, they have lost weight, as much of the food they eat ends up in urine, not in their cells. During visits with your primary care provider or endocrinologist, he or she will perform an A1C test to measure the glucose (blood sugar) in your blood by checking hemoglobin. Your physician may also take blood or urine samples to assess kidney, liver and thyroid function.