Endocrine system

Hormones, diabetes & metabolism: medicines & conditions

The endocrine system uses hormones — chemical messengers — to control blood sugar, metabolism, the thyroid, stress responses and much more. Its medicines either replace a hormone that is lacking or rebalance one that is over- or under-active.

Education and reference only. This hub explains which medicines relate to the hormones, diabetes & metabolism and why — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.

About the hormones, diabetes & metabolism

Diabetes care is the largest part of this group, ranging from metformin and newer tablets and injections (such as SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists) to insulin itself. Beyond diabetes, treatments replace or suppress thyroid hormones, replace steroid hormones, and manage other hormonal conditions. Because hormones affect the whole body, the themes that matter are matching treatment to regular blood tests, understanding "sick-day" adjustments for some drugs, recognising the symptoms of too much or too little hormone, and never stopping long-term steroid replacement abruptly.

What this covers

Type 2 diabetes and insulin
Underactive and overactive thyroid
Steroid (corticosteroid) treatment
Other hormone and metabolic conditions

Conditions in this area

Hormones, diabetes & metabolism conditions (43)

Each links to a dose-free guide showing which medicine classes are used and how treatment is approached.

Endocrine "Adrenal fatigue" (an unproven diagnosis) A popular but not medically recognised term blaming tiredness on "worn-out" adrenal glands — the symptoms are real, but … Endocrine Acromegaly A rare condition where too much growth hormone, usually from a pituitary tumour, causes gradual enlargement of the hands… Endocrine Addison's disease A condition in which the adrenal glands no longer make enough of their own hormones — treated with lifelong steroid repl… Endocrine Adrenal incidentaloma A lump on an adrenal gland found by chance on a scan, which is usually harmless — assessed to check it is not producing … Endocrine Carcinoid syndrome A group of symptoms — such as flushing and diarrhoea — caused by hormones released by certain slow-growing tumours (neur… Endocrine Conn's syndrome A hormonal cause of high blood pressure, where the adrenal glands make too much aldosterone — an important, treatable ca… Endocrine Cushing's syndrome A condition caused by too much of the hormone cortisol, leading to weight gain, skin and mood changes and high blood pre… Endocrine Delayed puberty When the signs of puberty start later than usual — often just a normal late-developing pattern, but sometimes needing as… Endocrine Diabetes insipidus A rare condition causing extreme thirst and passing large amounts of urine, unrelated to blood sugar — caused by a probl… Endocrine Diabetic foot problems Foot complications of diabetes — from reduced sensation and poor circulation to ulcers and infection — that are serious … Endocrine Diabetic neuropathy Nerve damage caused by long-term high blood sugar, most often affecting the feet and legs — helped by good blood sugar c… Endocrine Galactorrhoea A milky discharge from the nipples unrelated to breastfeeding, usually caused by a raised level of the hormone prolactin… Endocrine Gestational diabetes High blood sugar that first appears during pregnancy — usually managed with diet, activity and monitoring, with metformi… Endocrine Goitre An enlargement of the thyroid gland causing a swelling in the neck — with several possible causes, assessed to check thy… Endocrine High calcium (hypercalcaemia) A higher-than-normal level of calcium in the blood, often found on a blood test — usually from an overactive parathyroid… Endocrine Hyperparathyroidism Overactivity of the parathyroid glands raises calcium in the blood, which can cause tiredness, kidney stones, bone thinn… Endocrine Hyperprolactinaemia A raised level of the hormone prolactin — which can disturb periods, fertility and libido — often caused by a benign pit… Endocrine Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) A blood sugar level that falls too low, most often in people with diabetes on certain treatments — causing symptoms that… Endocrine Hypogonadism When the body produces too little of the sex hormones — such as low testosterone in men — causing a range of symptoms, a… Endocrine Hyponatraemia (low sodium) A low level of sodium in the blood, which can cause tiredness, confusion and, if severe, serious symptoms — with many ca… Endocrine Hypoparathyroidism A condition where the parathyroid glands produce too little parathyroid hormone, causing low calcium — managed with calc… Endocrine Hypopituitarism A condition where the pituitary gland does not make enough of one or more hormones, affecting other glands — managed by … Endocrine Low blood sugar (non-diabetic) Low blood sugar in people who do not have diabetes, causing symptoms such as shakiness, sweating and hunger — usually ma… Endocrine Low calcium (hypocalcaemia) A lower-than-normal level of calcium in the blood, which can cause tingling, muscle cramps and spasms — treatable once t… Endocrine Male "menopause" A term for symptoms sometimes attributed to falling testosterone with age in men — but symptoms are often due to lifesty… Endocrine Metabolic syndrome A cluster of conditions — including excess weight around the middle, high blood pressure, raised blood sugar and abnorma… Endocrine Multinodular goitre An enlarged thyroid gland containing multiple nodules, which is common and usually harmless — monitored, and treated if … Endocrine Obesity Carrying excess body fat that raises the risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disea… Endocrine Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) A condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone, speeding the body up — treated by reducing hormon… Endocrine Phaeochromocytoma A rare tumour of the adrenal gland that releases surges of adrenaline-type hormones, causing episodes of high blood pres… Endocrine Pituitary adenoma A usually benign growth on the pituitary gland that can affect hormones or press on nearby structures — often treatable … Endocrine Postpartum thyroiditis Inflammation of the thyroid gland in the year after giving birth, causing an overactive then underactive thyroid — often… Endocrine Precocious (early) puberty When the signs of puberty start unusually early — needing assessment to check for an underlying cause and, sometimes, tr… Endocrine Prolactinoma A common, non-cancerous pituitary tumour that produces too much of the hormone prolactin, affecting periods, fertility a… Endocrine Short stature in children When a child is much shorter than expected for their age — often a normal familial or late-developing pattern, but somet… Endocrine Sick euthyroid syndrome Abnormal thyroid blood tests that occur during a serious non-thyroid illness, in a person whose thyroid gland is actuall… Endocrine Subclinical hypothyroidism A mild, early form of underactive thyroid where blood tests are borderline but the main thyroid hormone is still normal … Endocrine Thyroid nodule A lump in the thyroid gland, which is very common and usually harmless — assessed to check thyroid function and to make … Endocrine Thyroid nodules Lumps within the thyroid gland in the neck, which are very common and usually non-cancerous — assessed to check they are… Endocrine Type 1 diabetes An autoimmune condition in which the pancreas makes little or no insulin, so lifelong insulin treatment is essential — m… Endocrine Type 2 diabetes A long-term condition where blood glucose runs too high because the body does not respond to insulin properly — managed … Endocrine Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) A condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone, slowing the body down — reliably treated by… Endocrine Vitamin D deficiency Low levels of vitamin D — important for healthy bones, muscles and teeth — which is common in the UK and usually correct…

Medicine classes

Medicines for the hormones, diabetes & metabolism (17)

Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.

By active ingredient

Common hormones, diabetes & metabolism medicines by name

Individual, dose-free guides to specific active ingredients (and their brands) in this area:

Clinical formulas & tools

Calculators used in this area

Risk scores and formulas that inform assessment and treatment decisions for the hormones, diabetes & metabolism:

Answers

Hormones, diabetes & metabolism: frequently asked questions

What medicines are used for the hormones, diabetes & metabolism?

This system includes 17 medicine classes — such as antithyroid drugs, desmopressin, dpp-4 inhibitors, fludrocortisone. Each links to a full, dose-free guide covering what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects and interactions.

Which conditions affect the hormones, diabetes & metabolism?

Common conditions in this area include "Adrenal fatigue" (an unproven diagnosis), Acromegaly, Addison's disease, Adrenal incidentaloma, Carcinoid syndrome and more. Each condition page shows the medicine classes used to treat it and why.

Do these pages give doses?

No. Every page on this site is dose-free. We explain which medicines are used and why, but doses depend on the individual and the exact product — always confirm with your prescriber, the BNF and the product labelling.

Is this a substitute for medical advice?

No — it is education and reference only. It helps you understand this body system and its treatments, but decisions about your own care should always be made with a qualified clinician.

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