Endocrinology & Metabolism

Ochsner is home to a compassionate, patient-focused team of fellowship-trained physicians, surgeons, advanced practice providers, nurses, and diabetes educators. Together, we strive to provide the finest care available in the Gulf South.

As part of the region’s leading multi-disciplinary hospital, we collaborate with world-renown specialists in ophthalmology, otolaryngology, radiation oncology, surgery, obstetrics, nephrology, transplantation and other specialty areas.

Our team provides a 360-degree approach to:

• Adrenal disorders
• Diabetes
• Organ Transplantation
• Osteoporosis, bone and calcium disorders
• Pituitary disorders
• POCS and reproductive disorders
• Thyroid disorders
• Transgender medicine

Diabetes is a condition that causes elevated blood sugar levels. This can occur when the body cannot produce or efficiently use its own insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas. The most common forms include type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but include others, such as gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes occurs because the pancreas is injured, resulting in the body not being able to produce its own insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas makes little to no insulin and the body is not able to effectively use its own insulin.

Why choose Ochsner Endocrinology to manage your diabetes?

Ochsner has paved the way for innovative care. The Endocrinology specialty is comprised of board-certified trained physicians, nurse practitioners, and support staff. We take pride in collaborative care - with access to numerous resources. Our insulin pump clinic is comprised of an advanced collaborative team including physicians, nurse practitioners, and diabetes educators. As a team, we use a multidisciplinary approach to the assessment and treatment plan of our patients.

Conditions we treat:

• Prediabetes
• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Gestational Diabetes
• Steroid induced hyperglycemia

Diagnostic Tests may include:

• Lab work – Hemoglobin A1c
• Fasting blood sugar test
• Random blood sugar test
• Oral glucose tolerance test
• Continuous glucose monitor

Treatments Provided:

• Lifestyle management
• Glucose Monitoring
• Continuous Glucose Monitor
• Oral antihyperglycemic agents
• Insulin
• Insulin Delivery Device
• Insulin Pump Therapy

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age, but many women don’t know they have it.

PCOS is a hormone disorder defined by a group of signs and symptoms. Signs of PCOS include:

Male hormone (androgen) excess

• Elevated testosterone levels in blood
• Clinical signs of androgen excess such as acne, hair on face and in male pattern on the body, and thinning hair on the scalp

Problems with ovulation

• Irregular or absent menstrual cycles
• Infertility

Ultrasound findings

• Large ovaries with many small follicles (which look like cysts, hence the name "polycystic"). These follicles are not cancerous

PCOS affects 7–10% of women of childbearing age and is the most common cause of infertility. In the United States, an estimated 5 to 6 million women have PCOS.

Our practice includes endocrinology, obstetrics and gynecology, dermatology, infertility and reproductive health specialist. We also offer referrals to nutritional and behavioral health that focuses on our patient health and issues that affect women with PCOS directly.

Our goal is to provide patient centered care that focuses on standards of care that are set forth by our specialties. The foundation of our care is knowledge of this disorder and management that is tailored to the patient.

Multidisciplinary care allows both endocrinology and OBGYN to work closely to provide a higher level of care.

Location

Ochsner Health Center – Old Metairie
123 Metairie Road
Metairie, LA 70005

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The pituitary gland, a bean-shaped organ located just behind the bridge of the nose is sometimes called the "master" gland of the endocrine system, because it controls the functions of many of the other endocrine glands. These include the thyroid, adrenals, testes and ovaries. The pituitary gland releases hormones (messages) into the blood stream which, in turn, prompt other organs to release their hormones into the bloodstream, providing feedback to the brain and pituitary. This "Master Gland" role makes the pituitary gland quite important, despite its small size.

Ochsner has the only multidisciplinary center for the care of Pituitary Disorders in the Gulf South. Our Center is designed to provide comprehensive care to all patients with newly diagnosed and preexisting pituitary disorders. Our program is built upon a strong foundation of recognized excellence in neurosurgical and neuroendocrine care and research.

Contact Information For Physician Referrals

To initiate a hospital transfer, physicians, call the Patient Flow Center at 855-OHS-LINK (855-647-5465).

To make an outpatient clinic referral, call the Ochsner Clinic Concierge at 855-312-4190 or fax 504-842-8416.

Click here to learn more.

The adrenal glands are two glands that sit on top of your kidneys that are made up of two distinct parts.

The adrenal cortex—the outer part of the gland—produces hormones that are vital to life, such as cortisol (which helps regulate metabolism and helps your body respond to stress) and aldosterone (which helps control blood pressure).

The adrenal medulla—the inner part of the gland—produces nonessential (that is, you don’t need them to live) hormones, such as adrenaline (which helps your body react to stress).

Why choose Ochsner Endocrinology to treat your adrenal condition?

The Ochsner Endocrinology department has years of experience treating adrenal disorders. We aim to provide quality care based on the most recent adrenal research and evidence-based guidelines. We have multiple surgeons experienced in adrenal surgery. Our experienced surgeons, along with state-of-the art imaging, and experience endocrinologists allow for a multidisciplinary approach to adrenal disease under one roof.

Conditions we treat:

• Adrenal Nodules/incidentalomas
• Adrenal Masses
• Adrenal Insufficiency/Addison’s Disease
• Pheochromocytoma
• Primary Hyperaldosteronism
• Cushing’s Syndrome
• Adrenal Insufficiency

Conditions we don’t treat:

• Adrenal fatigue

Treatments Provided:

• Diagnostic Tests may include:
  • CT Scan
  • MRI Scan
  • Adrenal venous sampling
  • Hormone testing (lab and urine studies)
• Treatments may include:
  • Hormone replacement
  • Hormone suppression
  • Adrenal surgery referral

Access to quality health care has always been a challenge for transgender individuals who, like everybody else, deserves leading-edge, compassionate care. Ochsner offers multidisciplinary health care, led by Dr Brandy Panunti, to patients seeking hormonal and/or surgical reassignment of gender. Appointments are made on an individual basis, and specialists meet to coordinate care when indicated.

The services include:

• Initiation and monitoring of hormonal reassignment of gender, done in coordination with other supporting medical professionals
• Affirming primary medical care
• Referrals to medical specialists that offer gender affirming surgeries including:
  • Masculinizing/Defeminizing Chest Reconstructive Surgery (Mastectomy)
  • Male Hysterectomy
  • Orchiectomy (Surgical Removal of the Testes)
  • Facial Feminization Procedures
  • Vaginoplasty (Female Genital Reconstructive Surgery)
  • Metoidioplasty and phalloplasty
    
• Voice training
• Being your advocate and writing letters in support for gender marker changes and necessary procedures.

We employ an informed consent model for our adult patients to decrease barriers to care and increase access to Hormone Access for the Trans Community.

Click here for reference on how to change name, driver's license, and birth certificate for Louisiana residents

A team of expert physician-scientists who specialize in the treatment of a vast number of common and rare bone, calcium and other mineral disorders associated with the regulation of skeletal and parathyroid hormone functions.

We offer DXA bone density testing and interpretation, on-site laboratory testing, and a fully staffed infusion center for the most sophisticated testing and drug administration requirements.

Our facilities allow our experts to perform specialized testing, and patients are provided access to a wide variety of therapies using the most up to date medications to diagnose and treat both common and rare bone diseases.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the base of your neck. It releases hormones that control metabolism—the way your body uses energy. The thyroid's hormones regulate vital body functions.

It is located in front of your throat below the prominence of thyroid cartilage sometimes called the Adam's apple. The thyroid has two sides called lobes that lie on either side of your windpipe and is usually connected by a strip of thyroid tissue known as an isthmus.

Why choose Ochsner Endocrinology to treat your thyroid condition?

The Ochsner Endocrinology department has experience treating thyroid disorders. With multiple experienced thyroid surgeons and state-of-the art imaging, Ochsner Endocrinology is able to deliver high quality thyroid care under one roof. We practice based on the most up to date research and guidelines such as those published by the American Thyroid Association and Endocrine Society. We offer thyroid ultrasound and thyroid fine-needle aspiration within our department. Our surgical thyroid specialists are high-volume and experienced thyroid surgeons which leads to the best possible outcomes. We’re committed to using a multidisciplinary approach to treating thyroid disease.

Conditions we treat:

• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism
• Grave’s disease
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Toxic Adenoma/toxic multinodular Goiter
• Thyroiditis
• Goiter
• Thyroid Nodules
• Thyroid Cancer

Conditions we don’t treat:

• Low T3 Syndrome
• Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome

Treatments provided:

• Diagnostic Tests may include:
  • Thyroid ultrasound
  • CT scan
  • Thyroid fine-needle aspiration
  • Nuclear medicine Thyroid Scan and Uptake
  • Hormone testing
• Treatments may include:
  • Hormone replacement
  • Hormone suppression
  • Radioactive iodine ablation or treatment
  • Thyroid surgery referral

The network of glands that make up the endocrine system produces hormones that affect:

• Metabolism
• Growth and development
• Tissue function
• Sexual function
• Reproduction
• Sleep and mood

The major glands that make up the endocrine system are the:

• Hypothalamus
• Pituitary
• Thyroid
• Parathyroids
• Adrenals
• Pineal body
• Ovaries
• Testes

While symptoms of endocrine and metabolic disorders vary by condition, they can greatly impact your health and well-being.

Ochsner treats a wide range of endocrine and metabolic disorders, including:

• Acromegaly
• Addison's disease
• Adrenal cancer
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Adrenoleukodystrophy
• Benign adrenal tumors
• Carcinoid tumors
• Chronic kidney disease
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• Cushing syndrome
• cystic fibrosis related diabetes
• Diabetic nephropathy
• End-stage renal disease
• Erectile dysfunction
• Galactorrhea
• Gender dysphoria
• Gestational diabetes
• Goiter
• Graves' disease
• Hashimoto's disease
• High cholesterol
• High potassium (hyperkalemia)
• Hirsutism
• Hurthle cell cancer
• Hypercalcemia
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Hypoglycemia
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• Infertility
• Insulinoma
• Klinefelter syndrome
• Low potassium (hypokalemia)
• Male hypogonadism
• Male infertility
• Metabolic bone disease
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 1 (MEN 1)
• Neuroendocrine tumors
• Obesity
• Osteomalacia
• Osteopetrosis
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Pheochromocytoma
• Pituitary tumors
• POEMS syndrome
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Primary aldosteronism
• Prolactinoma
• Sheehan's syndrome
• Thyroid cancer
• Thyroid disease
• Thyroid nodules
• Turner syndrome
• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes

• Ochsner Health Center – East Causeway Approach
• Slidell Memorial Hospital East
• Ochsner Medical Center
• Ochsner Medical Center - West Bank Campus
• Ochsner Baptist - A Campus of Ochsner Medical Center
• Ochsner Medical Center - Kenner

Make an appointment online at my.ochsner.org or call 504-842-4023. Second opinions are also available. We are now offering virtual visits with our providers. Click here to learn more.