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An Endocrinologist is a physician who specializes in
treating disorders of the endocrine system, such as diabetes,
hyperthyroidism, and many others .
The medical
specialty of endocrinology involves the diagnostic evaluation of
a wide variety of symptoms and variations and the long-term
management of disorders of deficiency or excess of one or more
hormones.
The
diagnosis and treatment of endocrine diseases are guided by
laboratory tests to a greater extent than for most specialties.
Many diseases are investigated through excitation/stimulation or
inhibition/suppression testing. This might involve injection
with a stimulating agent to test the function of an endocrine
organ. Blood is then sampled to assess the changes of the
relevant hormones or metabolites. An endocrinologist needs
extensive knowledge of clinical chemistry and biochemistry to
understand the uses and limitations of the investigations.
A second
important aspect of the practice of endocrinology is
distinguishing human variation from disease. Atypical patterns
of physical development and abnormal test results must be
assessed as indicative of disease or not. Diagnostic imaging of
endocrine organs may reveal incidental findings called
incidentalomas, which may or may not represent disease.
Endocrinology involves caring for the person as well as the
disease. Most endocrine disorders are chronic diseases that need
lifelong care. Some of the most common endocrine diseases
include diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and the metabolic
syndrome. Care of diabetes, obesity and other chronic diseases
necessitates understanding the patient at the personal and
social level as well as the molecular, and the physician–patient
relationship can be an important therapeutic process.
Apart from
treating patients, many endocrinologists are involved in
clinical science and medical research, teaching, and hospital
management.
Training
Endocrinologists are specialists of internal medicine or
pediatrics. Reproductive endocrinologists deal primarily
with problems of fertility and menstrual function—often
training first in obstetrics. Most qualify as an internist,
pediatrician, or gynecologist for a few years before
specializing, depending on the local training system. In the
U.S. and Canada, training for board certification in
internal medicine, pediatrics, or gynecology after medical
school is called residency. Further formal training to
subspecialize in adult, pediatric, or reproductive
endocrinology is called a fellowship. Typical training for a
North American endocrinologist involves 4 years of college,
4 years of medical school, 3 years of residency, and 2 years
of fellowship. Adult endocrinologists are board certified by
the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) or the
American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine (AOBIM) in
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism.
Professional organizations
In
North America the principal professional organizations of
endocrinologists include The Endocrine Society, the American
Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American
Diabetes Association, the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine
Society and the American Thyroid Association.
In the
United Kingdom, the Society for Endocrinology and the
British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes
are the main professional organisations. The European
Society for Paediatric Endocrinology is the largest
international professional association dedicated solely to
pediatric endocrinology. There are numerous similar
associations around the world.
