Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Our approach to endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism care

Our endocrinologists provide consultation, management and treatment for people with all types of endocrine and metabolic diseases, including diabetes, neuroendocrine tumors and disorders of calcium, bone and lipid metabolism.

Experts across multiple specialties meet regularly to discuss thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary, adrenal and pancreatic tumors. Together, we design each patient's treatment options with a focus on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life.

Our areas of expertise include:

• Diabetes. Physicians, nurse practitioners, registered dietitians and diabetes educators provide guidance and support, empowering you to manage diabetes. We also advance the future of diabetes care through research and clinical trials.

• Endocrine tumors. As one of the nation's top-rated cancer programs and home to the UCSF Health Neuroendocrine Tumor Program, we offer comprehensive care for benign (noncancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tumors of the endocrine system.

• Lipid disorders. We were among the first in California to establish a program dedicated to cholesterol and triglyceride disorders. Our expert lipid program team helps you lower your risk of heart attack, stroke and other complications of abnormal lipids through diet modifications, exercise and medication. In addition, our pioneering lipid disorder research led to the discovery of genes associated with heart disease and stroke.

• Metabolic bone disorders. Our endocrinologists specialize in rare and complex diseases affecting the bones, including osteoporosis, genetic disorders and metabolic diseases. They work with experts in medical genetics, orthopedics, nephrology, rheumatology, dentistry and craniofacial surgery to provide complete care with our metabolic bone program.

• Pituitary disorders. The minimally invasive direct endonasal transsphenoidal approach to pituitary surgery was pioneered at UCSF Health. This technique, which enables surgeons to operate through the nose without a facial incision, is now used worldwide.

• Thyroid disease. Endocrinologists and head and neck surgeons with our thyroid program use surgical and nonsurgical approaches to treat thyroid diseases, including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer.

Minimally invasive treatments for faster healing

Experts in endocrine surgery, otolaryngology, head and neck surgery and neurosurgery offer the latest minimally invasive procedures to treat tumors and other diseases of the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands. Using laparoscopic and robotic techniques, our surgeons can operate with remarkable precision. They take special care to preserve the nerves that control your vocal cords to minimize the risk of voice changes.

We also specialize in interventional procedures, such as embolization and ablation, to treat certain tumors without surgery. Interventional radiologists use catheters and needles to operate through small punctures in the skin. Embolization destroys tumors by blocking their blood supply. Ablation destroys tumors using heat.