Specialty Guides
When to See an Endocrinologist
Hormone-related conditions — diabetes, thyroid, adrenal, pituitary — that benefit from a specialist.
What an endocrinologist treats
Endocrinologists treat hormone disorders, including diabetes (especially type 1, insulin pump users, and complex type 2), thyroid disease, adrenal and pituitary disorders, osteoporosis, and reproductive hormone issues.
See an endocrinologist if you have
- Type 1 diabetes at any age
- Type 2 diabetes with A1C above goal despite treatment
- Starting insulin or a continuous glucose monitor
- Thyroid nodules, Graves' disease, or Hashimoto's thyroiditis
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with hormonal symptoms
- Suspected pituitary or adrenal disorder
- Severe osteoporosis or fractures with minimal trauma
Wait times can be long
Endocrinology has some of the longest waits of any specialty in many cities. While you wait, your primary care doctor can start treatment and order initial labs (TSH, A1C, etc.). Telehealth endocrinology has become widely available — worth considering.
What to bring
- Recent labs (TSH, A1C, glucose logs, lipid panel)
- Current medications and doses
- Continuous glucose monitor data if you use one
- Family history of diabetes or thyroid disease