What is an Endocrinologist?

The endocrine system is made up of eight glands. Those eight glands produce hormones that act as messengers, controlling and coordinating activities throughout the body. When endocrine glands aren’t functioning correctly, they can affect many aspects of your life, including:

• Growth
• Mood
• Reproduction
• Metabolism

An endocrinologist is a doctor with specialized training in the endocrine system.

What Does an Endocrinologist Do?

Endocrinologists diagnose and treat health conditions related to your body’s hormones, hormonal glands, and related tissues. When hormone imbalances occur, they can treat and manage the illnesses that arise. They work together with primary care doctors and other specialists to treat diseases that may originate in other systems but affect the endocrine system.

Which Diseases Does an Endocrinologist Treat?

If your doctor thinks that the underlying cause of an illness is related to hormone production, they may refer you to an endocrinologist. These are the conditions that endocrinologists commonly treat:

• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Menopause
• Metabolic disorders
• Thyroid diseases
• Excessive or insufficient production of hormones
• Some cancers
• Short stature
• Infertility

Reasons to See an Endocrinologist

Endocrine disorders can manifest themselves in different ways. Many endocrine disorders can make you feel extremely tired or fatigued. Other symptoms of endocrine disorders include:

• Weight changes
• Blood glucose level changes
• Mood changes
• Cholesterol changes

Other endocrine disorders have specific symptoms, such as:

• Rounded face (moon face)
• Excessive urination
• Skin color changes, especially on the face, neck, and back of hands
• Salty food cravings
• Decreased libido
• Menstrual changes
• Recurrent infections

See an Endocrinologist from Baptist Health

To learn more about why you should see an endocrinologist, find a Baptist Health Endocrinologist near you. 

Next Steps and Helpful Resources:

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