Services

Endocrinology & Diabetes Clinics

Patients will be triaged according to their presenting problem and where possible, offered an appointment in a clinic location closest to their home address (subject to appointment availability and waiting times).

Criteria for Referral

Information is available on HealthPathways Melbourne for assistance in managing your patient’s condition. This includes what investigations you need to perform prior to referring to a specialist and what information you need to include in the referral.  If you require login access to HealthPathways, contact info@healthpathwaysmelbourne.org.au.  

For the conditions listed below, referrals should meet the Statewide Referral Criteria for Specialist Clinics:

• Diabetes-related foot complication
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypothyroidism
• Metabolic bone disease (endocrinology)
• Thyroid mass (endocrinology)
• Type 1 diabetes (endocrinology)
• Type 2 diabetes

For all other Endocrinology and/or Diabetes conditions, please continue to refer as per clinical assessment and need.

Making a Referral

For referral information, including how to refer electronically, see Specialist (Outpatients) Clinics.

Referral Concerns

If your patient’s condition deteriorates, please send an updated referral via HealthLink SmartForms selecting the Referral Continuation “Amended referral/update previously sent referral” with additional clinical information. Emergency cases should be sent to the Emergency Department.

FAQ and more information

What is Endocrinology?

It is the study of hormones, which are chemical signals produced by various organs to influence the working of other organs within the body.
To find out more, visit the US Endocrine Society website here or visit the Australian site here. 

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition in which there is too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. It is caused by a lack of the hormone, insulin which is normally produced by the pancreas.

Symptoms include:

• Thirst
• Tiredness
• Frequent / excessive urination
• Persistent infections, such as genital thrush
• Weight loss
• Blurring of vision

If you have any of these symptoms, please see your GP for a blood test. Detecting diabetes early is very important so that the right treatment can be started to bring your blood sugars levels into the normal range. This will prevent long term complications of kidney failure, amputations, blindness, impotence, heart disease and stroke. 

For more information, you can visit:

www.diabetesaustralia.com.au
www.diabetesvic.org.au
www.adips.org

I have diabetes and need some advice now. What do I do?

• If you are a clinic patient at Eastern Health, or you have just been discharged from hospital, and need some urgent advice, you can see your GP or ring our Diabetes Educators during business hours on 9895 3445; if out of hours, ring our Endocrinology Registrar on 1300 342 255 
• If your sugars are high and you are vomiting, please come to the Emergency Department

I am interested in participating in a Diabetes Clinical Trial. How do I find out if I am eligible to participate?

Click here for more information. 

What do I need to bring to the clinic?

• Medicare Card
• Referral letter (if you have one)
• Previous x-rays, scans, ultrasounds, blood test reports – if you don’t have your blood test reports, please arrange to get them from your GP or find out the name of the Pathology Lab you went to
• Medication list, including vitamin and herbal supplements
• Adverse drug alert card, if you have one
• If you have diabetes, bring your blood glucose meter, your blood glucose diary/record book
• A book, or craft

Useful Websites

Adrenal Disorders

Andrology Australia (Men's Health)

Australian Menopause Society

Australian Pituitary Foundation

Diabetes Australia

Diabetes Victoria

Diabetes in Pregnancy Association 

Endocrine Society of Australia

Osteoporosis Australia

Pituitary Diseases

Thyroid Disorders