Endocrinology

Beacon Hospital’s Endocrinology Department offers expert diagnostics and treatment of an array of hormone related conditions.

Beacon Hospital’s Consultant Endocrinologists deal with a vast number of hormone related conditions and diseases. Our experts are highly experienced in the diagnostics and management of symptoms related to these disorders.

Hormones play many important roles in our systems and can impact many areas of the body such as; growth, fertility, metabolism, blood pressure, weight, the immune system and they can even impact a person’s behaviour.

At Beacon Hospital, our experts will perform all the necessary investigations in order to allow them to come up with a plan for your treatment. Where patients may require care from other specialists in relation to their condition, our Consultant Endocrinologists will provide a referral and work as part of a team with experts from other disciplines to ensure you receive gold standard care.

Diagnosis:

Our in-house laboratory allows tests to be carried out and examined swiftly. Our state-of-the-art radiology imaging equipment is the best in Ireland. As a patient of the Beacon Hospital, you will have access to this technology should your Consultant feel imaging is necessary at any point during your care.

Results and Next Steps:

Once the results of any diagnostics have been received and examined by your Consultant, you will be contacted to either arrange a follow up appointment, or you will be discharged back to the care of your GP.

If you have either Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes, you may be referred to Beacon Hospital’s Diabetes Centre for management of your condition.

Some common disorders presenting to Beacon Hospital’s Endocrinology Department include:

  • Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid)

    Hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. As a result of this increase in levels of thyroxine, hyperthyroidism can speed up your body’s metabolism. This can cause symptoms including unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular heartbeat.

  • Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid)

    Hypothyroidism occurs when a person’s thyroid gland does not produce enough of certain crucial hormones.

    Over time untreated hypothyroidism can cause health problems including obesity, joint pain, heart disease and infertility.

    Once diagnosed, your Endocrinologist can often treat the condition successfully with synthetic thyroid hormones.

  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

    PCOS is a common hormonal disorder affecting women of a reproductive age. Women with PCOS can have infrequent or prolonged menstrual cycles. They may have excessive amounts of male hormones (androgen). This can sometimes cause symptoms such as male patterned facial hair or severe acne.

    The ovaries can develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and may fail to regularly release eggs. There are numerous causes of PCOS. Your Endocrinologist will help you to get to the bottom of the cause and plan your treatment accordingly.

  • Type 1 Diabetes

    Type 1 Diabetes is a condition where the pancreas of the affected individual produces little to no insulin. Insulin is the hormone needed by the body to allow glucose (sugar) to enter into the body’s cells in order to produce energy.

  • Type 2 Diabetes

    Type 2 Diabetes is a condition affecting the way in which the body metabolises sugars (glucose). If a patient suffers from Type 2 Diabetes, their body either does not produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels, or it resists the effects of insulin.

    With medical, dietary and exercise therapies, some patients will be able to reverse their diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes.