Our Endocrinologists help patients manage a range of conditions that are caused by problems with hormones, such as diabetes, weight management, metabolic problems, thyroid disorders, infertility and menopause.
Dr Raymond Kodsi, Dr Shan Jiang and Dr Danielle Tu are our experienced specialist endocrinologists.
What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is when the blood sugar levels are raised abnormally during pregnancy. Around 5-10% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes in the second part of their pregnancy.
Some women with gestational diabetes need no treatment while others need a strict diet, some may need insulin injections. Gestational diabetes is not the same as having pre-existing diabetes. Typically, women with gestational diabetes have no symptoms and are diagnosed after their blood test.
Women who are at higher risk may be tested more often. You are at higher risk of developing gestational diabetes if you:
- are overweight
- have gained weight too rapidly in the first half of pregnancy.
- are over 40 years
- have had gestational diabetes before
- have had elevated blood glucose levels in the past
- a family history of type 2 diabetes
- come from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or some Asian backgrounds
- have previously had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- have had a large baby before
Gestational diabetes may also occur in women with no known risk factors. The baby will not be born with diabetes.
Thyroid Disorders
The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck below the larynx (or Adam’s apple). Its function is to produce hormones to regulate many metabolic processes, including growth and energy expenditure. Another gland, called the pituitary gland, controls how well the thyroid works. The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain and produces thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The bloodstream carries TSH to the thyroid gland, where it tells the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormones, as needed. Thyroid hormones influence virtually every organ system in the body. They tell organs how fast or slow they should work. Thyroid hormones also regulate the consumption of oxygen and the production of heat.
If the thyroid gland is overactive or sluggish, the metabolism will be affected, leading to a variety of symptoms that are easily misdiagnosed. Around one in 20 people will experience some form of thyroid dysfunction in their lifetime.
The following is a list of some common thyroid disorders :
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone, speeding up the body’d metabolism. One of the most common forms of hyperthyroidism is known as Graves’ disease.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is where the thyroid gland is underactive and produces too little thyroid hormone, slowing the body’s metabolism and causing many physical and mental processes to become sluggish. The body consumes less oxygen and produces less body heat.
Thyroid Nodules
Thyroid nodules is a small lump in the thyroid gland. These nodules are common and can be either a growth of thyroid tissue or a fluid-filled cyst.
Other Thyroid conditions
Other Thyroid conditions can include cancer, thyroiditis (swelling of the thyroid gland), or a goiter, which is an enlargement of the thyroid gland.
Metabolic disorders and obesity
Obesity is when you have too much body fat accumulated that presents a risk to your health. You can gain weight for a number of different reasons — genetic and lifestyle factors, or hormone conditions. For example, a thyroid condition like hypothyroidism (under active thyroid) or pituitary disorder like Cushing’s syndrome. Medications used to treat diabetes can also affect your ability to lose weight. These factors can also make it harder to lose weight through traditional diet and exercise alone.
Dr Raymond Kodsi has a special interest in weight management, metabolism and diabetes and can provide evidence-based professional dietary advice on weight management, help you lose weight, while safely managing other health conditions.
Dr Kodsi can also rule out hormone causes of obesity, look at contributions of medications to weight gain, and prescribe medication for weight loss if lifestyle measures are not sufficient.
Weight management and diabetes
For people who are overweight or diagnosed with prediabetes, weight loss/management is important. Health care professionals in the diabetes field are well aware of the impact and consequences of obesity contributing to the development of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Our Endocrinologists can help you regulate your hormone levels and speed up your metabolism to aid in weight loss, and can also help treat diseases that may affect weight, like type 2 diabetes.
