Most patients begin their journey to an endocrinologist when they are referred by their primary care doctor. But many patients wonder, what is an endocrinologist and what does an endocrinologist do? For answers to these questions, let’s turn to the new endocrinologist at Lovelace Medical Group, Dr. Anita Sloan-Garcia and have her explain what she does and the conditions she treats.
“We are doctors who take care of hormone problems,” she says. “We care for all of the glands in the body that release hormones.” These hormones are the master switches for so many bodily functions, and there are a surprising number of conditions that happen when these glands and hormones are out of control.
Thyroid Gland
The endocrine system is a series of many glands that produce and secrete hormones that the body uses for a wide range of functions. Let's start with the thyroid gland. “This butterfly-shaped gland controls your metabolism and other problems,” says Dr. Sloan. Sometimes the thyroid makes too much hormone, and sometimes it makes too little. Hypothyroidism is defined as a condition where the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormone.
“While endocrinologists treat many people with hypothyroidism, this is not the entire scope of our practice. The poor thyroid gets blamed for so much that is not its fault,” Dr. Sloan shares. “People often believe they have thyroid problems because they are overweight, but more often than not, the issue is pre-diabetes, not a thyroid issue. I spend time with my patients and figure out what actually is going on, and often the problem is insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.”
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition where the body is not making enough insulin to control the body's blood sugar. People often realize they have diabetes because their vision is affected, or they are very tired, or they have gained or lost weight. Treating diabetes is a life-long task, and people with diabetes need a doctor who will be a partner over the long haul. Dr. Sloan shares why she decided to become an endocrinologist. “The reason I decided to do my fellowship in endocrinology is because I get a lot of fulfillment out of supporting people with diabetes and people who struggle with body weight.” Dr. Sloan is willing to work on illnesses that involve the complicated problems of life.
Dr. Sloan is uniquely trained to handle these difficult lifestyle conditions. She completed her training in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of New Mexico, where she currently is working on a master’s degree in counseling. “I feel very passionate about helping patients with obesity,” she shares. “There is so much judgment in this world that many people do not seek treatment for obesity because they blame themselves. Yet we have many options in treating obesity. This is an exciting time in obesity medicine. I want to help people by treating obesity in a non-judgmental way.”
Thyroid Cancer
Endocrinologists also treat cancer, especially thyroid cancer, and Dr. Sloan stresses how extremely important this disease is. “Thyroid cancer is found in more women than men. There is a rise in the incidence of thyroid cancer, but we do not understand why that is. The diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer is a fast-growing field, and I am committed to remaining up-to-date regarding the newest advances. It is very important for patients to keep up with surveillance. Thyroid cancer can come back, even 20 years after treatment.” Dr. Sloan reminds her patients to always keep checking for recurrences of thyroid cancer and to be more responsible about their check-ups.
“As endocrinologists, we need to help people figure out what is really going on with their bodies and treat the body accordingly,” concludes Dr. Sloan.
Dr. Sloan-Garcia is a Lovelace Medical Group provider. For more information about receiving treatment from an endocrinologist, please ask your primary care provider or call 505-727-2727.