Endocrinology and diabetes care

Diabetes and endocrinology are specialties concerned with the diagnosis and management of disorders caused by hormone imbalances. 

Hormones are produced by glands such as the pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, pancreas, ovaries and testes. Their job is to regulate your essential body functions including growth, metabolism, reproduction and stress response. 

When these hormones are over- or under-produced, they can cause complex, multi-system disorders such as diabetes, thyroid and parathyroid disorders, adrenal dysfunction, pituitary disorders and calcium or lipid metabolism disorders. 

Because the symptoms you experience often affect many organs and bodily systems, it’s essential that you seek a specialist assessment and treatment. At HCA UK, our specialists in diabetes and endocrinology work in multi-disciplinary teams and use detailed investigations to diagnose hormonal imbalances and introduce treatments that can restore balance and improve your health and quality of life.

There’s a wide range of symptoms that may indicate that you have a hormonal imbalance. These include tiredness, irregular periods, fertility problems, erectile dysfunction, electrolyte imbalance, bone thinning, lumps in your neck, lipid and metabolic conditions linked to cardiovascular disease, hair loss, hair growth, weight gain and unexplained weight loss. 

If you suspect that you have a problem with your hormones or you’d like a second opinion about a diagnosis you’ve already received, our specialists are here to help. 

You commonly be referred to a specialist if you have a confirmed or suspected thyroid dysfunction, adrenal disorder, pituitary abnormality, growth disorder, calcium or bone metabolism issue such as hyperparathyroidism and osteoporosis, unexplained hypoglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2 as well as secondary diabetes, type 3 C diabetes or post solid organ transplantation diabetes.

If your GP suspects you have a neuroendocrine tumour, endocrine hypertension or that your weight management issues are hormone related, they may also suggest a referral to us.

Yes, we can. Pituitary gland disorders result in your pituitary gland over or under producing a range of hormones causing an imbalance. They’re often caused by tumours and the symptoms you might be experiencing will depend on the type of tumour causing it.

Secretory tumours such as Prolactinomas and Cushing’s disease produce excess hormones which can lead to you having irregular periods, weight changes, fatigue, vision problems and infertility. 

Non-secretory tumours can result in headaches, vision loss and reduced hormone function. 

If you’d like to double-check your diagnosis with an expert and talk about the specialist treatments that are available, we’re here for you. Both types of tumour can often be successfully treated by our specialist team using medication, surgery or radiation.

Yes, we do. Growth disorders arise when you have abnormal levels of growth hormone. Too low and it causes children to have a short stature alongside symptoms such as fatigue, low muscle mass and it can lead to poor wellbeing in adults. Excess growth hormone can cause gigantism in children and acromegaly in adults, with features such as enlarged hands, joint pain and heart issues. 

Treatments depend on whether you have too little or too much growth hormone. If you’re deficient, treatments include hormone replacement and if you have an excess of growth hormones you may be recommended to have surgery, medication and/or radiation therapy.

Absolutely. Your thyroid gland is responsible for regulating several bodily functions, including your metabolism, heart rate, weight and energy levels. Common conditions we see include hyperthyroidism, caused by an overactive thyroid and hypothyroidism caused by an underactive thyroid. 

A thyroid scan can help us get a clear diagnosis. If you do have a thyroid disorder, you may well notice that you feel very tired for no good reason. Weight changes, mood disturbances and problems with thermoregulation are also indicators that your thyroid may be an issue. The thyroid nodules that develop may or may not be cancerous. We have a whole range of approaches to help us accurately diagnose and treat your condition including a thyroidectomy, which can help with both the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders.

Yes, our specialists are here for you. Calcium metabolism disorders, such as primary hyperparathyroidism involve problems in how your body regulates calcium, which is vital for bone, muscle and nerve function. 

A common condition is primary hyperparathyroidism which results in high levels of calcium in your blood and can lead to bone weakness, kidney stones, fatigue, depression and memory problems. Some people may have no obvious symptoms, but the long-term effects can be serious if its left untreated. We’re here to help.

Yes, we can. The disorders we treat include problems with adrenal insufficiency, such as Addison’s disease which causes fatigue and low blood pressure. We can also help with overproduction which leads to conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome, Conn’s syndrome and Phaeochromocytoma, which can cause symptoms ranging from high blood pressure to anxiety. Adrenal tumours, whether they’re benign or malignant, may require minimally invasive surgery.

Diabetes is a condition which causes your blood sugar levels to spike due to a lack of insulin or because your body has become insulin resistant. Our specialists can help to diagnose and create treatment and management plans for all types, including the two main types: Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 requires daily insulin, and Type 2 is often linked to obesity and lifestyle. Symptoms include fatigue, thirst, frequent urination and weight changes. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to complications such as heart disease, blindness and kidney failure. Management involves lifestyle changes such as healthy eating and exercise alongside medication. Our specialists are here to help.

If you have a lipid disorder, including hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and mixed dyslipidaemia, you’ll have an abnormality in your blood proteins and may have yellowish fatty lumps or yellow creases on your skin and possibly in the inner corners of your eyes. 

High lipid levels are a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Your specialist will likely want to see if you have an endocrine condition such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, acromegaly or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Management is the way to treat it, correcting your hormone imbalance, controlling your blood sugar and taking lipid lowering medication.

If you’re putting on weight due to an endocrine disorder then yes, we can. Endocrine treatment for obesity targets hormonal imbalances that affect weight such as insulin resistance, thyroid dysfunction or an excess of cortisol. Treatments can include medication, hormone therapy or managing underlying conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Your specialist consultant will be able to help diagnose whether you have an endocrine disorder and advise you on the best way forward.

Yes, we do. Reproductive endocrinology is a subspecialty of endocrinology focused on the hormonal regulation of the reproductive system in both men and women. 

Our specialists can help women to diagnose and manage conditions relating to infertility as well as menstrual irregularities, PCOS, premature ovarian insufficiency and hormonal imbalances affecting puberty, libido or sexual function.

In men, the conditions we can diagnose and treat include disorders such as hypogonadism and low testosterone.  Book in and we’ll make sure you see the best specialist for you.