Health ConditionsHormones & Metabolic Disorders

Hormones & Metabolic Disorders

Hormone abnormalities can impact your metabolism, which is how your body turns food and drink into energy to keep you alive and functioning.

Hormone disorders may include thyroid disorders, diabetes, Cushing’s syndrome, and low testosterone, and each of these has uTreatment varies depending on the specific disorder and may include medication, lifestyle changes, hormone replacement therapy, or surgery.

Common Questions & Answers

What are common hormonal disorders?

Common hormonal disorders affecting metabolism include diabetes, thyroid disease, deficiencies in sex steroids, and obesity.

Hormones regulate how your body converts food into energy to use and store. Many hormones, including insulin, leptin, ghrelin, thyroid hormone, sex hormones, and others, play crucial roles in metabolism. Stress, poor sleep, and diet may affect hormonal balance.

Certain nutrients, eating patterns, and your overall nutritional intake affect your hormone levels. For example, a good intake of selenium, iodine, and iron can support healthy thyroid hormone levels, and extreme overeating or undereating can stimulate cortisol, the stress hormone.

Doctors diagnose metabolic disorders by testing the blood for lipid and glucose levels and performing a basic metabolic panel. If they suspect a hormonal cause, they may perform further blood tests for hormone levels.

Managing weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise, having a robust sleep schedule, quitting smoking, and making use of effective stress management techniques can all support your ongoing diabetes care. Check your blood glucose regularly and report extreme changes to your doctor.

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Resources
  1. Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders. University of Washington Medicine Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research.
  2. Hormonal Imbalance. Cleveland Clinic. April 4, 2022.

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