Clinical Services
We offer expert, compassionate care to adults with a wide range of endocrine conditions. We also perform several procedures and dynamic tests unique to endocrinology. Our team is dedicated to research that advances the field and training the next generation of endocrinologists.
We Focus on Caring for Adults with the Following Conditions
Given the high demand for endocrine services, we must focus on serving adults with complex conditions who benefit most from our team’s expertise, collaborative care, and clinical trials. To refer patients with these conditions, please follow the instructions here. Please contact us at 984-974-2924 if you need help.
Diabetes Mellitus- Type 1 Diabetes, with focus on people who live close to our clinic, or receive other specialized care at UNC Medical Center, or lack access to endocrine care closer to them.
- Complex Type 2 Diabetes, with focus on patients in the UNC transplant and cancer programs; people with severe insulin resistance; people with diabetes secondary to cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease; and people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at < 40 years.
- Rare and Atypical Diabetes, which encompasses a wide range of non-Type 1, non-Type 2 Diabetes. UNC Endocrinology is a study site for the nationwide RADIANT Study, which aims to discover and define rare and atypical forms of diabetes.
- Hyperthyroidism, with focus on Graves’ disease, hyperthyroidism in pregnancy, and hyperthyroidism with atrial fibrillation or heart failure
- Select cases of complex or difficult to manage hypothyroidism
- Thyroid nodules
- Thyroid cancer with focus on metastatic papillary/follicular cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, and familiar thyroid cancer syndromes
- Complex osteoporosis, with focus on people with fragility fractures of the spine or hip, bone density T-scores worse than -3.0, or bone density T-scores worse than -2.5 and taking long-term medication that weakens bone (e.g. glucocorticoids, anti-estrogen therapy for breast cancer, androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer)
- Paget’s disease of the bone
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Severe hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia
- Familial or hereditary hypophosphatemia
- Hypophosphatasia
Pituitary Disorders
- Acromegaly
- Cushing’s disease
- Pituitary tumors
- Hyperprolactinemia
- Hypopituitarism
- Primary adrenal insufficiency, including Addison’s disease
- Secondary adrenal insufficiency from a pituitary disorder
- Secondary adrenal insufficiency from glucocorticoid use
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Hyperaldosteronism
- Pheochromocytoma or paraganglionoma (PPGL)
- Adrenal nodules or masses > 1 cm
- Hypogonadism
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Hyperandrogenism
- Kleinfelter’s syndrome
- Turner’s syndrome
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and type 2 (MEN-1 and MEN-2)
- Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APGS)
- Gender affirming hormone therapy
We Are Unable to Routinely See Adults with the Following Conditions
To ensure access for people with high-priority conditions, UNC Faculty Practice endocrinologists do not routinely see adults with the following conditions. These problems are usually well-managed by a primary care provider such as a family practitioner, internist, or gynecologist.
- Stable type 2 diabetes with A1c < 7.5%. View summary of treatment options.
- Stable primary hypothyroidism with TSH values within or close to target range of 0.4-5.0 mIU/L. View treatment recommendations and information.
- Elevated thyroid anti-bodies (TPO antibodies) or Hashimoto’s disease with TSH values within OR close to target range of 0.4-5.0 mIU/L. View explanation.
- Uncomplicated osteopenia, i.e. T-scores on DEXA scan between -1.0 and -2.4 without fragility fractures, and without ongoing hormone-deprivation therapy for cancer or high dose glucocorticoid use. View how to define the severity and common treatment pathways.
- Vitamin D deficiency without metabolic bone or parathyroid disease as above. View referral criteria.
E-Consults
If you are a provider in the UNC Health System, and have a simple question about one of the above conditions, you may place an E-consult.
Procedures and Ancillary Services
In our clinic on the third floor of the Eastowne Building:
- Download and interpretation of glucometers, personal CGMs, and insulin pumps as part of the clinic visit
- Placement of professional CGM for 10- to 14-day glucose monitoring
- Biopsy of thyroid nodules
- Provocative testing necessary for diagnosis of endocrine conditions:
- Cosyntropin (ACTH)-stimulation test
- Oral glucose tolerance test
- Growth-hormone stimulation test
- Modified water deprivation test
- Modified supervised fast and “mixed meal” test
- Injections of denosumab (Prolia) and romozosumab (Evinity) for patients with osteoporosis who are prescribed these medications by our providers
In the infusion center and in the radiology suite on the first floor of the Eastowne Building:
- Zoledronate (Reclast) infusions for patients with osteoporosis
- Thyroid and neck ultrasound, CT scans, DEXA (bone density scans), Xrays