The Diabetes Center at Mercy also treats the following disorders. Please contact us with questions or for more information about how we can assist in the treatment of these medical problems.

Thyroid Disease

The thyroid is a small gland located in your neck. Your thyroid gathers iodine from your body to produce hormones that control your body's metabolism and regulate how quickly your body should use energy. It is estimated that over 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease, many of whom may not be aware of their condition. It is more common in women than men.

The most common form of thyroid disease is called Hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid does not produce enough of its metabolic-regulating hormone, causing your body to use energy more slowly than it should. Symptoms you may experience in Hypothyroidism might include feeling sluggish, cold, depressed, or forgetful. Your skin and hair might feel dry, and you may experience constipation.

Hashimoto's Disease affects the autoimmune system. If you are afflicted with Hashimoto's Disease, your body's antibodies actually attack the thyroid, and keeping it from producing enough metabolic hormone. It is the most common form of hypothyroidism, and eminently treatable.

Hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid produces too much of its metabolic hormone and makes the body use more energy than it should. Symptoms may include nervousness, irritability, shaky hands, increased perspiration, warm skin, thinning hair, weight loss, decreased menstruation, eye changes, and weak leg muscles. The most common form of Hyperthyroidism is Grave's Disease, which like Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune condition, but has the reverse effect on your body; Grave's Disease causes your body to produce antibodies that overstimulate the thyroid gland, so that it produces too much of its metabolic hormone.

Postpartum Thyroiditis is a swelling of the thyroid that occurs in 5%-7% of women who give birth, and can cause temporarily high levels of thyroid hormone.

Thyroid Cancer is the most serious of thyroid diseases. However, most thyroid cancers grow very slowly and can be effectively treated. Although anyone can get thyroid cancer, people who received head or neck x-ray treatments for tonsillitis or other conditions (generally from the 1920s to 1960s) are most at risk.

Thyroid disease is generally easily and safely treated with medication alone or with a combination of surgery and medication. The Diabetes Center at Mercy encourages you and your family to closely monitor thyroid levels regularly with your Mercy physician.

High Cholesterol

Cholesterol exists among the fats, or lipids in your bloodstream. It's a soft, waxy substance that can be found in all your body's cells, and it is perfectly normal to have cholesterol. There are two forms of cholesterol:

• High-density, or "good" cholesterol is produced by your body itself and is found in oats, olive oil, and other natural, non-animal foods.
• Low-density, or "bad" cholesterol which is very difficult for the body to transport through the bloodstream. This "bad" cholesterol is a major risk for coronary heart disease, which often leads to heart attack.

The medical term for dangerously high levels of cholesterol in your blood is Hypercholesterolemia. The Diabetes Center at mercy urges that you and your doctor monitor your body's cholesterol levels regularly.

Hirsutism

If you are a woman concerned with excessive or male-patterned hair growth on your face or body, you may be experiencing a medical condition called Hirsutism. Hirsutism is most often genetic in origin and is not cause for alarm if you have always had an abundance of hair, but it can also be an indication of a hormone imbalance or polycystic ovaries, both which can be serious dangers to your health. The Diabetes center at Mercy can help determine the cause of Hirsutism by testing your blood and administering an ultrasound. The sooner the cause of Hirsutism is detected, the more effectively you and your Mercy physician can treat the condition.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, affects an estimated 6-10% of all women and most are not aware that they have it. PCOS is also known as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome or Polycystic Ovary Disease (PCOD).

In a normal ovary, a single egg develops and is released each month. The many cysts in a polycystic ovary are follicles that have matured but, due to abnormal hormone levels, were never released.

PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility in women, and though not curable, is treatable with changes in diet and exercise and with medication.

The Diabetes Center at Mercy urges you to visit your physician if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms: ·

• Irregular or absent menses
• Elevated insulin levels, Insulin Resistance, or Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Difficulty becoming pregnant
• Hirsutism
• Thinning of scalp hair
• Obesity that is mainly around your midsection