Endocrine disorders (including diabetes)

What are endocrine disorders?

The endocrine system is a network of glands that produce and release hormones (the chemical messages) that help control important bodily functions. There are a variety of endocrine disorders, with diabetes being the most common. Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases where a person has high blood sugar levels, either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.

How do we help children who have endocrine disorders?

Assessment and management of endocrine disorders is provided by the Sydney Children's Hospital Network as a part of its Endocrinology and Diabetes services. We provide services to children and adolescents across NSW, including a full range of outpatient, inpatient, day-stay, endocrine testing, telehealth and after-hours on-call support for both inpatients and outpatients.

Our service is based on a multidisciplinary team approach. The service runs from both The Children's Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children's Hospital. Additional diabetes and endocrine services are provided at Campbelltown Hospital, supported by Sydney Chldren's Hospital, and at Nepean Hospital, supported by The Children's Hospital at Westmead. In addition, The Children's Hospital at Westmead provides diagnostic services in complex bone disorders and radioactive treatment of thyroid cancer.

Both hospitals provide acute diabetes and endocrinology on-call services for complex conditions, which plays a major role in preventing hospital admissions, especially for families with diabetes.