Endocrinology

MetroHealth's doctors are board-certified in endocrinology, and serve as faculty at Case Western Reserve University, participating in ongoing research studies that help our patients—and patients around the world. Our nurses’ specialized skills include diabetes education and endocrinology testing. Our network of care ensures that all your health needs are met with care and efficiency. Neurosurgery is our partner in the treatment of pituitary tumors. We work closely with the Maternal-Fetal Medicine team in the care for expectant mothers with diabetes or other endocrine disorders.

Treating Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease that impacts a person's ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin. This defect allows sugar to build up in the body.

There are three main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in kids, teens or young adults. People who have this form of diabetes make very little or no insulin.
• Type 2 diabetes is much more common. People with this form of diabetes do not respond to insulin in an optimal way. Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, which can affect adults and children.
• Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy in women who did not have diabetes prior to pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is a very high-risk factor for subsequent type 2 diabetes. 

All forms of diabetes are serious, and some cause early symptoms. We often see people who are worried that they're living with prediabetes. Others may already have diabetes-related symptoms such as blurry vision or intense thirst and/or urination. Others feel fatigued, hungry or have unexplained weight loss. We provide the testing and care to reach a correct diagnosis and to begin proper treatment for any type of diabetes.

Our endocrinology team administers blood tests to help with diagnosis. We gauge fasting blood glucose levels and hemoglobin A1C. We also perform oral glucose tolerance tests. The results of these tests help us tailor the best treatment plan for the individual.

Should your diabetes respond to weight loss or diet changes, we can help you amend your lifestyle safely. We can connect you with nutritionists, physical therapists or bariatric surgeons, all of them available at MetroHealth. Should you need medications, we can help you understand how to use them properly. We are also well-versed in the administration of insulin, either with injections or pumps. We teach you how to monitor your blood sugar at home, so we can ensure your plan is working properly. We offer a diabetes education class, where you can learn more about how diabetes works and how to keep your symptoms under control.

Pediatric Endocrine Services

At MetroHealth, every child is treated with special one-on-one care. Our pediatric endocrinologists work closely with MetroHealth pediatricians, sharing test results, treatment plans and diagnostics. We're on call 24 hours a day for urgent diabetes problems and endocrine concerns, and three days per week the team holds a diabetes clinic.

When children are diagnosed with diabetes, they are paired with a team that offers education about diet changes and glucose monitoring. Children and their parents are taught how to administer insulin. We also offer training on continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps. Our team manages medical complications associated with diabetes, including kidney disease and hyperlipidemia.
In addition to assisting with pediatric diabetes, our team helps with other endocrine disorders, including growth disorders, thyroid disease, disorders of pubertal development, adrenal insufficiency, abnormalities of calcium and bone metabolism, pituitary insufficiency and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Specialized Treatment for Endocrine Disorders

Our endocrinologists provide state-of-the-art care for people with a variety of hormonal and metabolic disorders, including:

• Calcium metabolism disorders
• Gender identity disorders
• Hirsutism
• Lipid disorders
• Osteoporosis
• Pituitary tumors
• Thyroid and adrenal diseases
• Thyroid cancers

To make an appointment, call 216-778-2323. Referral is not required.

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