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Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
About me
Deputy Chief Physician of the Endocrinology Department at Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, holding a master's degree from Xiangya Second Hospital of Central South University, leading and participating in several provincial-level scientific research projects, and publishing multiple professional papers in core journals.
Proficient in diseases
Treat various endocrine disorders.
Voices
What to do with Hashimoto's thyroiditis?
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common clinical type of thyroiditis, with over 90% occurring in females. It is also the major cause of primary hypothyroidism. The onset of Hashimoto's thyroiditis is insidious and progresses slowly. Early clinical manifestations are often atypical. Therefore, the treatment of Hashimoto's thyroiditis should be tailored to different circumstances. If a patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis has normal thyroid function, then no special treatment is needed, only regular follow-up is required. If the patient develops hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone replacement therapy should be administered using either thyroxine tablets or levothyroxine tablets until the maintenance dose is reached, to improve clinical symptoms and normalize thyroid function. Another category includes patients with Hashimoto's hyperthyroidism, who generally do not require treatment as they may go through phases of hyperthyroidism, normal thyroid function, and hypothyroidism. Transient hyperthyroidism can be managed symptomatically with β-blockers. For cases highly suspected of concurrent Hashimoto's thyroiditis with thyroid cancer or lymphoma, surgical treatment can be considered.
Harms of Gestational Diabetes
What is gestational diabetes? Gestational diabetes is a condition of varying degrees of high blood sugar that occurs or is first identified during pregnancy, including impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes that were not identified before pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can endanger the health of both the fetus and the mother. The impacts on offspring mainly include an increased risk of fetal mortality in the womb, i.e., an increased risk of complications from congenital abnormalities, an increased risk of macrosomia, and an increased risk of neonatal hypoglycemia and developing diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance during adolescence or young adulthood.
Gestational diabetes manifestations
Gestational diabetes refers to hyperglycemia that either develops or is first identified during pregnancy, including previously unrecognized glucose intolerance and diabetes prior to pregnancy. Typical symptoms of gestational diabetes include frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger, or recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. High vigilance for gestational diabetes is warranted if the pregnant woman weighs over 90 kilograms, or if the current pregnancy is complicated by excessive amniotic fluid or a macrosomic fetus. The danger of this condition is that, in severe cases or where blood sugar control is poor, it can easily lead to miscarriage and preterm birth, as well as infections, and in severe cases, may lead to ketoacidosis. Treatment involves two aspects: one is dietary control, and for patients who cannot control their diet effectively, insulin treatment can be used. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)
How to test for Hashimoto's thyroiditis?
Hashimoto's thyroiditis, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is a common type of autoimmune thyroid disease and the main cause of primary hypothyroidism. Often, Hashimoto's thyroiditis may present no symptoms, having hidden onset and slow development. Typical symptoms include general fatigue, throat discomfort, localized pressure, or dull pain. Hashimoto's thyroiditis can lead to damage by the autoimmune system, causing permanent hypothyroidism. Diagnosis can be facilitated through thyroid function tests, iodine-131 uptake tests, anti-thyroid antibody tests, thyroid ultrasound, and thyroid nuclear scanning.
Gestational diabetes symptoms
Gestational diabetes refers to the onset or first-time detection of varying degrees of hyperglycemia during pregnancy, including pre-pregnancy unrecognized glucose intolerance and diabetes. Typical clinical symptoms of gestational diabetes include polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, or recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. If the pregnant woman's weight is greater than or equal to 90 kilograms, and the current pregnancy is complicated by excessive amniotic fluid or macrosomia, there is also a high suspicion of gestational diabetes. In severe cases or those with poor blood sugar control, not only is there an increased risk of preterm labor but also miscarriage, and in severe cases, ketoacidosis may occur.
How is Hashimoto's thyroiditis caused?
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a chronic autoimmune disease and is the most common type of thyroiditis clinically. Its etiology is primarily immunological, as Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder. Therefore, patients can detect a high concentration of anti-thyroid antibodies through blood tests, such as anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and anti-microsomal antibodies. Additionally, genetic factors are involved, with about 50% of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis having a family history. Environmental factors, including radiation, infections, excessive dietary iodine, and selenium deficiency, can also lead to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In recent years, the incidence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis has notably increased.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis symptoms
Hashimoto's thyroiditis, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is the primary cause of hypothyroidism. The development of Hashimoto's thyroiditis is closely linked to genetic factors and autoimmune abnormalities caused by disorders in iodine metabolism. The clinical manifestations of Hashimoto's thyroiditis vary, with the typical presentation being a diffuse, firm, painless, mild to moderate enlargement of the thyroid gland. Symptoms of compression in the neck and systemic symptoms are usually not prominent. Thyroid function may be normal or reduced, but thyroid autoantibodies such as thyroglobulin antibodies, thyroid peroxidase antibodies, and thyroid-stimulating hormone antibodies are often present in the bloodstream. Patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis often have a family history of autoimmune diseases.
Why is it called Type 2 Diabetes?
Diabetes is afflicting people all around the world, particularly type 2 diabetes, which accounts for over 90% of all cases. The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes is quite complex, involving genetic predispositions and environmental factors, as well as factors like insulin resistance and defects in the function of beta cells in the islets of Langerhans. Therefore, type 2 diabetes arises under the combined effects of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, where the patient experiences a decrease in insulin sensitivity that worsens over time, leading to compensatory hyperinsulinemia and impaired insulin secretion. As the condition worsens and progresses, the function of the pancreatic beta cells deteriorates further and becomes inadequate, leading to the onset of type 2 diabetes. Thus, defects in the function of the beta cells are crucial to the development of type 2 diabetes.
Can gestational diabetes be inherited by the baby?
Gestational diabetes refers to hyperglycemia that starts or is first identified during pregnancy, including previously undiagnosed glucose intolerance and diabetes before pregnancy. Although most patients’ blood sugar levels may return to normal after delivery, whether or not it normalizes postpartum, it is considered gestational diabetes. The harm during pregnancy endangers the health of both the fetus and the mother. The effects on offspring mainly manifest in the following ways: First, it increases the risk of complications such as fetal intrauterine death and congenital anomalies. Second, the risk of giving birth to a large baby is increased. Third, the incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia, jaundice, polycythemia, and hypocalcemia increases. Fourth, the risk of obesity, glucose intolerance, and diabetes increases during adolescence and young adulthood. Therefore, while gestational diabetes is not inherited by the baby, it does increase the risk of obesity, glucose intolerance, and diabetes in the baby during adolescence or young adulthood.
Gestational diabetes hazards
The hazards of gestational diabetes: So, what is gestational diabetes? It refers to the onset of varying degrees of hyperglycemia during pregnancy, or its first detection, including previously undetected glucose tolerance abnormalities and diabetes before pregnancy. However, pregnancies in diabetic patients are not included in this category, and should be referred to as diabetes complicating pregnancy. The main dangers of gestational diabetes are that it can jeopardize the health of both the fetus and the mother. The effects and hazards to offspring mainly manifest as an increased risk of fetal intrauterine death, congenital anomalies, and complications. There is also an increased risk of macrosomia, and an increased incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia, jaundice, polycythemia, and hypocalcemia. Additionally, the risk of obesity, glucose tolerance abnormalities, and diabetes significantly increases in offspring during adolescence or young adulthood.