Endocrinology and Diabetes
Contact Endocrinology and Diabetes
-
Seattle
206-987-2640
- Bellevue
425-454-4644
- Everett
425-304-6080 -
Federal Way
253-838-5878 -
Olympia
360-459-5009
Endocrinology is the study of hormones. Hormones travel in the blood and control
many important body functions by delivering signals between the cells. Insulin,
for example, is a hormone that moves food energy from the blood into muscle, fat
and liver cells. If your child’s body does not make enough insulin or becomes
resistant to its effects, your child may develop diabetes. Diabetes is a
lifelong condition in which the body doesn’t properly control the amount of
sugar in the blood.
The Endocrinology and Diabetes program at Seattle Children’s provides long-term
care for children and teens with diabetes and other
endocrine system problems, such as puberty, growth and thyroid disorders. We
believe in caring for your child while helping you learn how best to manage your
child’s condition. Children’s program meets national standards set by the
American Diabetes Association. Our team is experienced in caring for growing
children, and includes doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants,
certified diabetes nurse educators, dietitians and social workers. We work
closely with you and your child’s primary care doctor to help your child thrive.
Meet the Endocrinology and
Diabetes care team.
Conditions we treat
We care for children and teens with a broad range of endocrine disorders,
including:
- Adrenal disorders
The adrenal glands release hormones that control many important functions,
including puberty and your child’s response to stress. When the adrenal glands
don’t work properly, your child may develop one of a number of disorders,
depending on which hormone is affected. One of these disorders is Cushing’s
syndrome. It happens when a person’s body makes too much of the stress hormone
called cortisol. Another disorder is adrenal insufficiency, which occurs when
the body makes too little cortisol.
- Calcium and
phosphorus disorders
The minerals calcium and phosphorus are important to many parts of the body.
Calcium helps with brain, heart and muscle function. Together, calcium and
phosphorus build strong teeth and bones. Many problems can develop when levels
of calcium and phosphorus are too high (hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia) or
too low (hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia). Calcium and phosphorus disorders
are often caused by problems with production of the parathyroid hormone. They
can also be the result of problems with the way vitamin D works in the body.
- Type 1 diabetes (PDF)
Diabetes is a condition that causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to
get too high. In type 1 diabetes, blood sugar levels rise out of control because
the body has stopped making enough of the hormone called insulin. The job of
insulin is to move sugar from the blood into cells. Type 1 diabetes is most
often found when a person is a child or young adult.
- Type 2 diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to
become too high. In type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t respond properly to the
hormone called insulin, which moves food energy from the blood into cells.
Glucose is less able to enter the cells and supply energy, which causes blood
sugar levels to rise.
- Gonad disorders
The gonads — testes in boys and ovaries in girls — produce most of the body’s
sex hormones. When the gonads produce too little hormone (hypogonadism) or too
much hormone (hypergonadism), health problems can occur. In girls, hypogonadism
during childhood stops menstruation and breast development from occurring, and
slows growth. In boys, too little sex hormone during childhood slows development
of muscles and facial hair, and results in short stature. In both boys and
girls, too much of the hormones can speed sexual development.
- Growth hormone deficiency and growth disorder
A growth disorder is any problem in babies, children or teens that prevents them
from meeting what is considered normal growth. Many conditions can cause growth
disorders, including those involving hormones (endocrine diseases, such as
hypothyroidism). Growth hormone deficiency occurs when the pituitary gland does
not produce enough of the hormone to make normal growth possible.
- Lipid disorders
Lipid disorders occur when people have trouble keeping proper levels of body
fats, including cholesterol, in the blood. In children and teens, some studies
show that high levels of “bad,” or LDL, cholesterol add to the risk of
developing heart disease early in life.
- Disorders of puberty
Puberty is the time of life when your child becomes mature sexually. Most often,
it happens between ages 9 and 14 years for girls, and ages 11 and 16 years for
boys. When children begin puberty unusually early or late, there may be a
problem with the way hormones are released and used by their bodies. Puberty
that begins very early — before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys — is
called
precocious puberty. In girls, when the first period (menstruation) hasn’t
come by age 16 or breast development by age 14, doctors call the condition
delayed puberty. For boys, the sign of delayed puberty is testicles that have
not grown larger by age 14.
- Thyroid disorders
The thyroid gland produces hormones that help control the process that turns
food into energy the body can use (metabolism). While there are several thyroid
disorders, they can be divided into two main types. Hyperthyroidism is when the
gland releases too much thyroid hormone, which can cause your child to stop
gaining weight while growing.
Hypothyroidism means too little hormone is in
your child’s blood, which can slow growth and delay puberty.
