Endocrinology

Endocrinology

Endocrinology (from endocrine + -ology) is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions known as hormones.

Hormones are essential for our every-day survival. They control our temperature, sleep, mood, stress, growth and more.

Hormones play an indirect yet crucial role in your

• Metabolism
• Respiration
• Growth
• Movement
• Reproduction

Endocrinology is a branch of the medical field that deals with diseases related to hormones and the glands that secrete them (endocrine glands). The glands that secrete the hormones include:

  • Pancreas: A gland located in your abdomen that makes insulin and glucagon.

  • Thyroid: A butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that controls your metabolism, energy, and brain growth and development.

  • Pituitary gland: A pea-sized gland located at the base of your brain that controls all the other hormones.

  • Adrenal glands: A pair of glands, one on each side of the abdomen, located on the top of your kidneys. They exert control on your blood pressure, metabolism, stress response, and sex hormones.

  • Parathyroid glands: Four small glands in your neck that control the level of calcium in your blood.

  • Hypothalamus: A small gland located at the base of your brain that controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst.

  • Ovaries Reproductive glands (gonads) in females that contain eggs.

  • Testes Reproductive glands (gonads) in males that contain sperms.

  • Pineal gland A gland found near the center of the brain that may be linked to sleep patterns.

  • Thymus A gland in the upper part of your chest that helps in the development of the body’s immune system during the early stages of your life.

What type of diseases does an endocrinologist treat?

  • Diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2

  • Thyroid disorders

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Hyperthyroidism

  • Goiter

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Type 2 diabetes can affect all people, regardless of age

Diabetes interferes with the body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates for energy, leading to high levels of blood sugar. These chronically high blood sugar levels increase a person's risk of developing serious health problems.

Over the long term, potential consequences of untreated high blood sugar include:

Nerve problems

Vision loss

Joint deformities

Cardiovascular disease

Diabetic coma (life-threatening)

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

Although people with type 2 diabetes may not have specific symptoms, an increase in thirst is one symptom that is characteristic of the condition.

Other symptoms that can occur if high blood sugar levels persist are fatigue, blurred vision, and headaches.

Certain infections and sores that take a long time to heal are a warning sign. Other possible signs include frequent yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and itchy skin.

Since diabetes can damage the blood vessels and nerves in the sex organs, decreased sensation can develop, potentially leading to difficulties with orgasm. Vaginal dryness in women and impotence in men are other complications of diabetes.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a health problem characterized by many small cysts in the ovaries, irregular periods, and high levels of androgen hormones.

Risk factors of Type 2 Diabetes

Certain risk factors related to both lifestyle choices and medical conditions can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. These include:

Cigarette smoking

Being overweight or obese, especially around the waist

Lack of exercise

Triglyceride levels over 250 mg/dL

Low levels of “good” HDL cholesterol (below 35 mg/dL)

Consuming a diet that is high in processed meat, fat, sweets, and red meats

Insulin is a hormone that allows the body to efficiently use glucose as fuel. After carbohydrates are broken down into sugars in the stomach, glucose enters the blood circulation and stimulates the pancreas to release insulin in the proper amount. Insulin allows body cells to uptake glucose as energy.

In type 2 diabetes, the body's cells cannot take up glucose properly, leading to high levels of glucose in the blood. Insulin resistance means that although the body can produce insulin, the body's cells do not respond properly to the insulin that is made. Over time, the pancreas reduces the amount of insulin that it produces.

The hemoglobin A1c test measures the amount of glycosylated hemoglobin (hemoglobin bound to glucose) in your blood and provides information about your average blood glucose levels over the previous 2 to 3 months. Hemoglobin A1c levels over 6.5% are suggestive of diabetes.

How is Multiple Sclerosis diagnosed?

There is currently no cure for MS. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, reducing relapses (periods when symptoms worsen) and slowing the disease’s progression. Your comprehensive treatment plan may include:

Another diagnostic test is the fasting blood glucose test.

If your fasting blood glucose level is over 126, this establishes that diabetes is present.

Random blood glucose levels over 200 are also consistent with diabetes.

Keeping good control over blood sugar levels can help reduce the risk of getting complications from diabetes.

People with type 2 diabetes will need to monitor intake of carbohydrates and reduce calories.

Word Out

1. Regular exercise, including walking
2. Physical activity -Reduces body fat, Lowers Blood Pressure, and helps prevent cardiovascular disease
3. 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days

Stress is particularly worrisome for people with diabetes.

Stress- Increases blood pressure and Blood Glucose levels.

Relaxation techniques like visualization, meditation, or breathing exercises can help manage their condition.

Treatments:

In type 2 diabetes, Oral medication is recommended - blood sugar not adequately control with diet and exercise.
In type 2 diabetes, insulin is also taken sometimes in combination with oral medications.
Insulin is also used in "beta-cell failure," a condition in which the pancreas no longer produces insulin in response to elevated blood glucose.

Rapid-acting insulin starts to work within a few minutes and lasts for a couple of hours.

Regular or short-acting insulin takes about 30 minutes to work and lasts 3-6 hours.

Intermediate-acting insulin takes 2-4 hours to work and lasts up to 18 hours.

Long-acting insulin can work for an entire day.

Type-1 Diabetes - Another device that measures glucose is termed a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM)

Insulin Side Effects

Low blood sugar

Headache

Headache

Weight gain when you first start using insulin

Lumps, scars, or rash at injection site

There are other non-insulin drugs given in injection form that are used to treat type 2 diabetes. Examples are pramlintide (Symlin), exenatide (Byetta), and liraglutide (Victoza). These drugs stimulate the release of insulin.

Around two out of every three people with diabetes die of heart disease

Diabetes is the most common cause of renal failure, making up about 44% of cases.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of new blindness in people between 20 and 74.

Tingling, numbness, and a sensation of "pins and needles" are all symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage related to diabetes

Sores that heal poorly and even gangrene are complications of diabetes that can occur in the feet. Amputation may be the result in severe cases.

Type 2 diabetes is preventable in many patients. At the least, it is possible to reduce the incidence of complications of diabetes by eating a healthy diet, getting moderate exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Type-1 Diabetes - When the body's immune system destroys beta cells in part of the pancreas, type 1 diabetes develops.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that usually starts in childhood, but can occur in adults (30-to 40-year-olds). In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces very little insulin.

Unusual thirst is a very common symptom of type 1 diabetes.

In type 1 diabetes develop unintentional weight loss and an increase in appetite

If you have untreated type 1 diabetes, you might experience serious symptoms, such as

• blurry vision
• numbness or tingling in the extremities (especially the feet)
• loss of consciousness
• fatigue
• fruity breath
• dry mouth
• diabetic coma

The problem with type 1 diabetes is that the person's cells are deprived of the sugar they need for energy. Without the insulin produced by the pancreas, sugar has difficulty entering the body's cells. Consequently, the body cells start burning fat for energy, which causes ketones to build up in the blood. These acids can change the person's blood pH level and can trigger a life-threatening coma. This is termed diabetic ketoacidosis.

Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include the following:

• Flushed, hot, dry skin
• Blurred vision
• Feeling thirsty and excess urination
• Drowsiness
• Rapid, deep breathing
• Fruity breath odor
• Loss of appetite, belly pain, and vomiting
• Confusion
• Type 1 diabetes usually starts in childhood or young adulthood, whereas type 2 diabetes usually starts in adulthood. In people with type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system attacks and destroys pancreatic cells (Beta cells) that produce insulin. In people with type 2 diabetes, the pancreas is not attacked and usually produces insulin. However, people with type 2 diabetes, for numerous reasons, cannot use the available insulin effectively.
• People with type 2 diabetes can have the same symptoms as those with type 1 diabetes, however, people with type 1 diabetes usually have symptoms that occur more rapidly. Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, but type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with a healthy lifestyle.