Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology

The department of Diabetes and Endocrinology at Royal Perth Hospital provides treatment and education for people with endocrine disorders and their carers. They may be referred from in the hospital or from the community.

The treatment of people with endocrine diseases including diabetes is provided by a team of experts that includes:

• Diabetes/ Endocrinology Consultants
  
• Dietitians
  
• Diabetes nurse educators

Diabetes

The aim of the treatment is to assist people to control blood glucose levels and avoid the development of diabetes complications with minimal disruption of their lifestyle. Most of the service is provided in outpatient clinics. It is customary even for people newly diagnosed with Type1 Diabetes to be admitted to a hospital bed.
Knowledge and support, with access to expert advice, is necessary to enable people to cope with difficulties in a way that will reduce their need for admission to hospital
However education and support is also provided for people admitted to hospital either with problems associated with diabetes or for conditions that are not related to diabetes requiring a change in the current treatment regime.
The outpatient service is mainly used by people with insulin dependent diabetes but also treats anyone with Type 2 diabetes who has complications or is referred for assessment

Endocrinology

The service provided for other endocrine conditions includes medical treatment that involves regular injections or implants of drugs to boost, supplement or inhibit the bodies own hormone secretion. Dietary intervention is also an integral part of the treatment of various endocrine disorders.

Osteoporosis

This is an out patient service that is provided by a multi-disciplinary team that includes Rheumatology and Geriatric consultants as well as the Endocrine team. Diet plays an important role in the maintenance of bone density so that the inclusion of the dietitian in this service is essential.

Easy access to podiatry, social work and psychological services is also an important in the treatment of endocrine disease and the unit at RPH is able to provide this.