Average time it takes to be seen by a provider
Verified providers with a 4.8 average rating
In the business of finding quality care for patients
On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for an Endocrinologist in Chicago, book an appointment, and see the Endocrinologist within 24 hours. Same-day appointments are often available, you can search for real-time availability of Endocrinologists in Chicago who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Chicago Endocrinologist who takes your insurance. Just choose your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you’re not sure which plan you have, you can use Zocdoc’s insurance checker to find out.
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find Endocrinologists in Chicago and book appointments instantly. You can search for Chicago Endocrinologists by symptom or visit reason. Then, choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
When you search for Chicago Endocrinologists on Zocdoc, you can filter your results by gender, in addition to other criteria. That way, you’ll only see Endocrinologists in Chicago who match your preferences.
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Chicago Endocrinologists with availability after 5 p.m.
You can use Zocdoc to find Endocrinologists in Chicago who are highly rated by other patients. These ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on Zocdoc, they’re invited to review their experience. Each review must comply with Zocdoc’s guidelines.
Endocrinologists in Chicago on Zocdoc who see patients through online video visits will have a purple video icon on their profiles. You can also filter your search results to show only Endocrinologists who offer video visits.
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Endocrinologists in Chicago who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for an Endocrinologist who has appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.
Zocdoc let's you see real-time availability for Endocrinologists in Chicago. Many Endocrinologists offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
Endocrinology deals with the human endocrine system. The endocrine system is responsible for controlling all hormones in the body.
An endocrinologist is a specialist who can diagnose and treat several health issues affecting parts of the endocrine system, mainly the thyroid, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands. The conditions include but are not limited to the following:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists endocrinologists under physicians and surgeons. Most endocrinologists work alongside nurses and administrative staff in private practices and doctor's offices. They may also consult at hospitals and work with patients.
Some endocrinologists work full-time in hospital settings, combining their knowledge with other physicians to treat patients with endocrine-related illnesses. Educational facilities are other places where an endocrinologist's skills and expertise are valued and needed. In such settings, endocrinologists teach aspiring physicians or perform medical research. They also undertake home health care, visiting patients who cannot leave their homes for medical reasons.
The comprehensive training process for endocrinologists typically spans a minimum of 10 years. Their educational journey normally involves four years of undergraduate degree, followed by four years of medical school. For the first two years of medical school, they study theory in classrooms and laboratories. In the following two years, they learn to diagnose and treat illnesses under the expert guidance of doctors in medical settings such as clinics and hospitals.
Subsequently, they undergo a three-year residency in hospitals and clinics, where they earn practical experience in patient care. They then dedicate an additional two to three years to specialized training in endocrinology.
Endocrinologists are certified internal medicine physicians who have completed an additional certification examination.
Endocrinologists can choose to gain expertise in different subspecialties within endocrinology. These include the following:
Elevated blood glucose levels are symptoms of diabetes. Glucose is the body's primary energy source, obtained from both internal production and food.
The pancreas creates insulin, which transports glucose from the bloodstream to the liver, muscles, and fat cells. In people with diabetes, the body either has insufficient or no insulin or may not be able to utilize the insulin produced. As a result, glucose accumulates in the blood vessels and fails to reach the cells.
If diabetes is uncontrolled and not treated on time, it can lead to complications in the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart and is also associated with certain types of cancer. Taking preventive measures or managing diabetes can significantly lower the risk of other health problems related to the condition.
There are various types of diabetes:
Additionally, there are less common types of diabetes, such as monogenic diabetes, which results from a genetic mutation. Diabetes can also arise from surgical removal of the pancreas or damage to the pancreas due to conditions like cystic fibrosis or pancreatitis.
When diagnosed with diabetes, you may need to consult an endocrinologist to help manage your condition. The recommendation by your primary care provider depends on your diabetes type. You may never need an endocrinologist's assistance for uncomplicated type 2 diabetes because you can manage the disease through lifestyle changes under your primary provider's guidance. However, your primary healthcare provider will recommend consulting an endocrinologist in more complicated cases like type 1 diabetes.
You may feel overwhelmed at the first endocrinologist's appointment. We recommend writing down questions before your session to ensure your endocrinologist addresses everything that requires clarification.
The primary step in managing diabetes is understanding it. During your first session, your endocrinologist will help you understand the intricacies of the disease. They will then conduct an initial examination.
Endocrinologists will discuss your diagnosis and review lab results during your initial exam. They may then prescribe medications and educate you on administering them correctly, mainly insulin. They may also suggest any required lifestyle modifications, like following a nutritional diet and exercise plan. They may review and inform you about any possible complications in your case. They may discuss treatment options customized to meet your unique health requirements.
Endocrinologists may also talk to you about how living with diabetes can affect other body parts and areas of your life. To help you manage the condition better, they may recommend additions to your diabetes team. Additions often include:Â
Now that you know how to be ready for your appointment, it is also crucial to know of questions you can ask to make the most of your session. Suppose you've been diagnosed with diabetes, and your primary care doctor has referred you to an endocrinologist. In that case, they'll conduct a thorough assessment, often including foot checks and tests for triglycerides, cholesterol, HbA1c, and kidney functions. It's important to mention any symptoms you may not have discussed before, such as blurred vision, skin or mood changes (especially signs of depression), reactions at injection sites, sexual dysfunction, tooth pain, muscle aches, or nausea.
You might consider asking questions to gain a clearer understanding of managing diabetes. Key topics include foot care routines, exercise recommendations, and whether you should monitor blood sugar before and during physical activity. Inquire about eye exams, dietician referrals, and specific guidelines for checking blood sugar, including identifying safe levels and actions to take if levels are too high or too low.
Â
It's also helpful to discuss medication timing, managing missed doses, possible side effects, and whether a medical alert bracelet or necklace and glucagon are necessary. Ask about special measures for managing diabetes while traveling or during illness and any recommended vaccines.
For those taking insulin, it's generally advisable to see your doctor every three to four months, whereas patients on non-insulin treatments may visit every four to six months. Visits may need to be more frequent if you have complications, if new symptoms appear, or if symptoms worsen.
We recommend regularly noting your blood glucose, blood pressure, or cholesterol levels and visiting the endocrinologist as per your requirement. During regular visits, your endocrinologist will review your treatment plan and ask if you have any new symptoms or concerns. The doctor may change your treatment plan depending on the information you provide during regular visits and test results.Â
Zocdoc helps you manage your medical condition by connecting you with the top endocrinologists in Chicago, Illinois. Our comprehensive directory of endocrinologists provides access to top-rated and experienced endocrinologists. With Zocdoc, you can search for the best endocrinologists by typing in your condition, location, preferred date, and insurance carrier.
With Zocdoc, you can also find information about each practitioner's education, experience, specialty, location, certifications, and affiliations. Moreover, you can also book an appointment with the best doctor after reading the verified reviews by past patients.
Zocdoc helps you instantly book an appointment for your first session. Our online patient support center can help you locate endocrinologists who accept your insurance. You can also utilize Zocdoc's insurance card capture feature to submit your medical insurance information before making an appointment. Using Zocdoc, you can link your medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your account, though you can use only one plan per appointment.
For those with multiple insurance plans, you can include secondary insurance details in your appointment notes. Alternatively, if your healthcare provider uses Zocdoc's intake forms, you can enter your secondary insurance information directly through the form.
Zocdoc also offers flexible scheduling options, allowing you to book appointments based on the endocrinologist's availability. This includes booking before, during, or after regular office hours and on weekends and holidays if permitted by the provider's schedule.
Booking in-person or online appointments with endocrinologists near you through Zocdoc is free, fast, and secure.
According to the American Diabetes Association, about 88,406 people in Illinois are diagnosed with diabetes every year. In 2018, nearly 993,082 adults in Illinois had been diagnosed with diabetes, and close to 296,000 didn't know about their positive diabetes diagnosis. The report also stated that approximately 3,393,000 people in the state (which amounted to 34% of the adult population) had prediabetes.
America's Health Rankings published a report on diabetes in Illinois. According to this report, in 2022, about 12.0% of the adult population in the state had diabetes. The numbers were highest among people over 65 (23.9%) and lowest among adults between 18 and 44 (3.9%).
The report further stated that diabetes was more prevalent among men (12.5%) than women (11.5%) in Illinois. The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes stood higher among non-whites compared to whites. Among the non-white community, data from Hispanics/Latinos demonstrated more diabetes cases than non-Hispanics/Latinos. People with a disability also displayed a higher prevalence of diagnosed diabetes than those without a disability.
The Diabetes Center and Endocrinology Clinic at the University of Illinois Hospital reported that the diabetes rate in Chicago was around 10%, but it was much higher in the hospital, ranging from 20% to 37%.
As per the Center for Health Statistics at the Illinois Department of Public Health, death rates among people with diabetes in Illinois vary by sex and race. African Americans with diabetes in Illinois have the highest mortality rate for females (33.2/100,000) and males (30.2/100,000).
American Association of Clinical Endocrinology
Illinois Department of Public Health[1]
Illinois Department of Public Health[2]
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.