Pediatric Endocrinology

Advanced Care for Diabetes and Pediatric Endocrine Disorders

The pediatric endocrinology team at Loyola Medicine offers consultation and comprehensive care for children with endocrine disorders and diabetes mellitus.

Endocrine conditions include hormonal disturbances and disorders of the major endocrine glands, such as the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, gonads and adrenal glands.

Our highly skilled pediatric endocrinologists provide state-of-the-art diagnosis, treatment and management of endocrine disorders for children ages 18 and younger. These conditions include:

Loyola’s pediatric endocrinology specialists have unique training in the comprehensive care of our youngest patients and receive referrals from pediatricians, family medicine doctors and other specialists because of their reputation.

Your child will benefit from the expertise of Loyola’s skilled doctors and nurses, as well as an endocrine specialist and certified diabetes educator. Your child’s pediatrician will also be informed of his or her diagnosis and treatment plan and will be involved in your child’s care.

We work closely with families and with school nurses in providing optimal health for our patients with diabetes and other conditions in the school setting.

For children and adolescents who suffer from growth problems or other acute and chronic endocrine disorders, our team can offer guidance and support in managing the disorder in your child’s everyday life.

Why Choose Loyola for Pediatric Endocrinology?

Loyola is committed to the compassionate diagnosis and care of our youngest patients with endocrine disorders. Our pediatric endocrinologists are at the forefront of medicine and are actively pursuing research to find new methods for management of diabetes and other endocrine disorders.

Loyola’s pediatric endocrinologists are board-certified pediatricians who have specialty training in endocrinology medicine.

Our department is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive and advanced care possible, working as an integrated team with pediatricians, dietitians, imaging technicians and other specialists to care for your child in a compassionate, family-friendly environment.

Loyola’s clinicians welcome families to be involved in all aspects of diagnosis, treatment and recovery; they are available to answer any questions and address any concerns you might have.

Loyola’s pediatric endocrinologists also provide health education talks at schools and community events, as well as educational sessions for healthcare providers on the latest research in diabetes and other hormonal disturbances.

At Loyola, we understand the importance of continuity of care and we will provide seamless communication with your child’s pediatrician through our secure medical information portal, LoyolaConnect. You can also access results from your child’s lab tests and evaluations through myLoyola.

How are Pediatric Endocrine Disorders Diagnosed?

Children with endocrine problems often complain of feeling tired or weak; they may also have poor growth or show signs of puberty earlier or later than expected. Loyola’s specialists will provide a definitive diagnosis and develop a comprehensive treatment plan as soon as possible.

In order to determine and understand the cause of your child’s symptoms, your child’s doctor may order tests to check your child’s hormone levels, including blood and urine tests.

Imaging tests – such as X-rays, CT (computed tomography) scans or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) – may be also used to look more closely at your child’s glands or investigate potential causes of your child's condition.

X-rays of your child’s bones, often in the hand, can help us monitor your child’s growth.

How are Pediatric Endocrine Disorders Treated?

Loyola’s pediatric endocrinologists understand that your child’s endocrine disorder is possibly negatively impacting his or her life. Our primary goal is to manage your child’s symptoms and improve his or her condition so that your child can return to everyday activities.

Many endocrine problems are treated with careful management of medications, such as synthetic hormones or steroids. If your child has a hormone imbalance, medications can suppress or stimulate the body’s production of that hormone.

Changes in one hormone level can affect another, and your Loyola endocrinologist will provide treatment with great care and precision, providing adjustments if necessary.

While pediatric diabetes cannot be cured, it can be treated and controlled. Your child’s endocrinologist will work with you to develop a plan to manage the disease.

The most important methods for managing your child’s diabetes include:

• Checking in regularly with your doctors
• Exercising regularly
• Managing blood sugar and blood pressure levels
• Planning meals and avoiding junk food
• Reducing your child’s stress
• Taking prescribed medication

Because of the common link between Type 2 diabetes and excess weight, a child with Type 2 diabetes might be referred to our child and teen weight loss and control program. This program can help a child or teen to lose weight, improve his or her diet and stay healthy.

If your child’s symptoms are caused by an endocrine tumor, sometimes the best course of treatment is to surgically remove the tumor. In some cases, an endocrine gland which is not functioning properly may be entirely removed. Loyola’s pediatric surgeons are highly skilled in caring for the unique needs of children undergoing surgery.

We have unique surgical tools designed for pediatric surgery, supportive services to provide comfort and reassurance and anesthesiologists skilled in the care of our youngest patients.