Endocrinology and Diabetes
The Endocrinology and Diabetes Service provides a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to inpatient and outpatient care for adults across Fiona Stanley and Fremantle hospitals.
Endocrinology is the study of hormones and their actions in the body. Endocrine disorders arise when hormone levels or actions are abnormal and include adrenal and thyroid disorders, osteoporosis and diabetes.
Diabetes is a disorder in which the body cannot make proper use of carbohydrates in food because the pancreas does not make enough insulin, or the insulin produced is ineffective, or a combination of both. Learn more about diabetes (Healthy WA).
Our services include:
- inpatient care for emergency presentations for a range of specialty conditions, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycaemia state, hypoglycaemia, diabetic foot complications, Addison’s disease and thyroid disorders (Fiona Stanley Hospital only)
- specialty outpatient clinics, providing care for diabetes and endocrine related diseases
- multi-disciplinary diabetes foot ulcer service (see below)
- comprehensive diabetes education and allied health services
- intensive type 1 diabetes education courses including, carbohydrate counting, insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring.
- psychological therapy for diabetes-related stress and difficulties with self-care (Fiona Stanley Hospital only)
- antenatal diabetes and endocrine care (Fiona Stanley Hospital only).
The Multidisciplinary Diabetes Foot Ulcer (MDFU) service is a specialist interdisciplinary team (endocrinology, vascular surgery, infectious diseases and podiatry) that manages foot (below the level of the medial and lateral malleoli) ulceration and acute Charcot neuroarthropathy in patients with diabetes.
The MDFU service at Fiona Stanley and Fremantle hospitals is a Centre of Excellence interdisciplinary high-risk foot service, accredited by the National Association of Diabetes Centres.
The service aims to reduce lower limb amputations and hospitalisations in people with diabetes-related foot ulceration, however:
- acute vascular surgical emergencies, including critical limb ischaemia, gangrene or abscess formation, should be referred directly to the vascular surgery team
- complex orthopaedic infections, leg ulcers, traumatic injuries to the foot and rheumatological and crystal deposition disorders of the foot are outside the scope of this service.
In mid-2019 the MDFU team's excellence in the delivery of safe, high quality clinical care was recognised when it was named winner of the Excellence in Clinical Care category in the 2019 SMHS Excellence Awards.
The Type 1 Diabetes Transition Clinic supports young adults with type 1 diabetes to transition smoothly from Perth Children’s Hospital to our Endocrinology and Diabetes service for their diabetes care.
Read more about this clinic.
Empowering you to take control
Our team of health care professionals provides individualised clinical care and structured group education programs to help you achieve your diabetes-related goals, optimise your health and your quality of life.
See how some of our programs may assist you in improving your diabetes self-management.
Challenges in living with diabetes
Living with diabetes can be a challenge. Our behavioural diabetes support programs allow you to engage with our team and others with diabetes to:
- set goals
- plan strategies
- achieve your own diabetes-related goals.
Watch how other people with diabetes have benefited from these programs.
Contact us
For Fiona Stanley Hospital patients
Phone the Fiona Stanley Hospital Helpdesk on 6152 2222.
For Fremantle Hospital patients
Phone the Fremantle Hospital switchboard on 9431 3333.