Certified in Endocrinology & Metabolism
My name is Mitchell S. Akman, M.D., and I am the only certified Endocrinologist, as well as the only Endocrinologist with hospital privileges, practicing in Redding, California.
I specialize in all aspects of adult endocrinology and metabolism. The most common endocrine disorder is Diabetes, and it has been clearly proven that education of patients with diabetes is the key to long term success. The goal is early education to prevent patients from developing brittle diabetes, as well as the numerous and devastating complications caused by diabetes. We know that diabetes is the leading cause of these complications, which include blindness, kidney failure, and amputations. These complications can be prevented or improved with proper management. Recent major studies in both type 1 (juvenile onset or insulin dependant) as well as type 2 (adult onset or non-insulin dependant) have shown this to be generally true no matter how long someone has had diabetes.
I specialize in many other areas of endocrinology including (click on the name for a definition):
Thyroid disease (including Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy of thyroid nodules)
We have a full sized Bone Density Machine in the office!
Impotence
Hypogonadism
Gestational Diabetes and Diabetes in Pregnancy
Pituitary disorders
Calcium metabolism
Adrenal disorders
Peri-operative diabetic management
Endocrine disorders of the breast
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia
Any other Endocrine abnormality
As I am only practicing Endocrinology, any primary care issues will be left with the patient's primary care physician.
External Links
Here are a few interesting endocrine related links:
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
Magic Foundation (children's growth)
Send a comment to me.
Definitions
| Adrenal |
The adrenal gland secretes many hormones, including cortisol, adrenaline, aldosterone (controls blood pressure, sodium and potassium levels), and male hormones. |
| Calcium |
A mineral necessary for many different cells in the body to function correctly. It's level in the blood is very tightly controlled by special glands in the neck called Parathyroid Glands. These are located next to the thyroid, but have nothing else to do with the thyroid. They can sometimes overproduce their hormone, parathyroid hormone, which causes an elevation of the blood calcium level. If they stop working, the calcium level may go too low. |
| Diabetes |
An illness characterized by an abnormal elevation of blood sugars. Half of the patients with diabetes have NO SYMPTOMS, and don't know they have the disease. Common symptoms include fatigue, thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, and blurred vision. |
| Endocrinologist | A physician specializing in internal glands and their secretions. The rest of this section lists the illnesses treated by an Endocrinologist. |
| Gestational Diabetes | Gestational diabetes is diabetes that is caused by pregnancy, and disappears after delivery of the baby. Although usually harmless to the mother, gestational diabetes can cause several problems with the pregnancy, and cause harm to the fetus. Current American Diabetes Association recommendations are that pregnant women be screened for gestational diabetes between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. Treatment will reduce the risk to the fetus in most cases. |
| Hirsutism | Excessive hair growth in women. This is often associated with irregular menstruation and/or infertility. |
| Metabolism | The rate at which the body uses fuel or burns calories |
| Osteoporosis | An abnormal thinning of bones that makes it more likely that a bone will break. Osteoporosis is painless by itself. However, an osteoporotic bone will break with a much smaller force than a normal bone. Osteoporosis can only be diagnosed by a special scan. |
| Pituitary | A small gland located behind the nose, hanging from the brain. It is the "master gland" controlling many other glands, including the ovaries, testes, adrenal glands, and thyroid. It also controls growth during childhood and adolescence, lactation, and helps the kidneys conserve water. As well, it plays a part in labor and delivery. |
| Surgery | Control of blood sugars is very important during surgery. We know that here is delayed healing if diabetes is uncontrolled during surgery or many other medical illnesses. Patients with diabetes are often hospitalized longer than non diabetics for any given illness. |
| Thyroid |
A small butterfly shaped gland in the neck that regulates metabolism. An overactive gland (hyperthyroidism) often causes fatigue, weight loss, rapid heartbeat, tremor, increased appetite, and a feeling of being hot all the time. There are also numerous other symptoms. An underactive gland (hypothyroidism) often causes fatigue, weight gain, slow heartbeat, dry skin, decreased appetite, and a feeling of being cold all the time. There are also numerous other symptoms. An enlarged thyroid is called a GOITER. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a minor office procedure to determine the cause of certain suspicious thyroid masses or nodules. A small needle is inserted into the nodule and cells are removed to be viewed under the microscope. Most patients report that it is about as painful as a blood test. |
Disclaimer: No information contained herein is meant to take the place of seeing a physician. All information is of a very general nature and should be discussed with your personal physician and NOT taken as medical advice.
Page Hits 