Areas of Expertise

Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 diabetes: Autoimmune condition where the pancreas doesn't produce insulin.
Type 2 diabetes: Insulin resistance leading to high blood sugar levels.

Hypothyroidism

Underactive thyroid gland resulting in low thyroid hormone levels, leading to various symptoms.

Hyperthyroidism

Overactive thyroid gland causing excessive production of thyroid hormones.

Cushing's Syndrome

Excess cortisol production, often due to prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol.

Addison's Disease

Adrenal glands don't produce enough cortisol and sometimes aldosterone

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Hormonal imbalance in women, often causing irregular periods, excess hair growth, and cysts on the ovaries

Acromegaly

Excess growth hormone production in adults, leading to enlarged hands, feet, and facial features

Hyperparathyroidism

Overactive parathyroid glands leading to high levels of calcium in the blood

Hypoparathyroidism

Insufficient production of parathyroid hormone, causing low calcium levels

Pheochromocytoma

Adrenal gland tumor causing excessive release of adrenaline and noradrenaline

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Genetic disorder affecting the adrenal glands' ability to produce cortisol and aldosterone

My Approach

Hyperprolactinemia

Excess prolactin production, often causing issues with menstrual periods and fertility

Graves' Disease

Autoimmune disorder causing overactive thyroid gland, resulting in hyperthyroidism

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Autoimmune condition leading to inflammation and damage of the thyroid gland, causing hypothyroidism

Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) Syndromes

Genetic disorders causing tumors in multiple endocrine glands, leading to hormone overproduction

Hypogonadism

Decreased or absent hormone production by the gonads, affecting sexual development and function. Testosterone replacement treatment

Adrenal Insufficiency

Insufficient adrenal hormone production, leading to fatigue, weight loss, and other symptoms

Thyroid Nodules / Thyroid cancer

Abnormal growths within the thyroid gland, which can be benign or cancerous

Parathyroid Disorders / Calcium disorders

Various disorders affecting the parathyroid glands' control of calcium levels

Adrenocortical Carcinoma

Rare cancer of the adrenal cortex, often leading to excess hormone production

My Approach

Metabolic syndrome

Diabetes (high blood sugar): condition where pancreas can’t produce enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or your body becomes resistant to it (type 2 diabetes). Symptoms of diabetes are feeling tired, hungry, thirsty, and passing more urine.
Gestational diabetes – seen in pregnancy as part of usual testing- may need insulin treatment.

Resource - https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

difficult to treat BP needing 3 or more medications may be related to hormone condition and need testing and treatment.

Obesity/ overweight

may be related to hormones and needs testing and may need medication treatment

High Cholesterol

may lead to heart attack and stroke risk and may need treatment with special drugs if not tolerating medication prescribed by GP

Bone health-Osteoporosis

common condition above 70 years of age where bones become thin and leads to fracture even with low trauma. Needs testing with bone density and treatment with special medications through endocrinologist if common medication not working. Early and rare forms of osteoporosis or related to other medical conditions.

Paget’s disease – can cause bone pain and fractures

Osteogenesis imperfecta- congenital condition causing early fractures.

Resource- https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au

The thyroid gland

regulates metabolism and energy:

Thyroid problems, Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis)

hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid): low thyroid hormone- low energy and weight gain.

Hyperthyroidism (Graves’ disease/ goitre) / hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid): high thyroid hormone- anxiety, palpitations, weight loss and sleep disturbance. May need treated with medications

Nodular Goitre: may need testing for thyroid cancer, obstruction and hormone levels. Thyroid cancer.

Thyroid hormone disorders in pregnancy

Thyroid disorder related to cancer treatment

Resources- https://thyroidfoundation.org.au/

Reproductive and sexual health

Testes: Low testosterone can cause decrease energy levels, low mood and libido as well as erection problems- needs testing and replacement of testosterone (TRT)

Resource- https://www.hormones-australia.org.au/2020/01/28/testosterone-therapy-for-men-who-can-benefit/

Ovaries- PCOS – causes decreased periods, male pattern hair growth and low fertility. Menopause and menopause hormone replacement.

Resource - https://www.menopause.org.au/

The parathyroid gland

regulates calcium balance

Hyperparathyroidism (High blood calcium) - causes early osteoporosis and fractures, kidney stones, kidney failure and heart attacks

Hypoparathyroidism (low blood calcium) - after surgery trauma radiation leads to low calcium and needs replacement treatment.

My Approach

The adrenal glands

regulates energy balance and stress response

Low cortisol levels (Addison’s disease) – Causes low BP and dizziness, weight loss and tiredness. Needs testing and replacement.

High Cortisol (Cushing’s syndrome)- Cushing's syndrome Causes weight gain, stretch marks, diabetes and high BP- Needs testing and treatment of underlying cause like tumour.

High Adrenaline (Pheochromocytoma)- Causes high BP, palpitation- needs special medication for BP testing for tumour.

High aldosterone- Causes high BP and low blood potassium, needs special medication for BP testing for tumour.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia- rare genetic condition affecting hormone production in children and young adults

The pituitary gland

master gland regulates other glands

Hypopituitarism - low pituitary hormones tumour, medications, surgery or radiation treatment related. Need hormone replacement

High Prolactin - prolactin secreting tumour causes low testosterone and vision problems.

Diabetes insipidus - increased thirst and urination.

SIADH - low blood sodium levels- can cause confusion and seizures

Other pituitary tumours

Resources: https://www.hormones-australia.org.au