Endocrinology

• Type 1 Diabetes – Autoimmune condition requiring insulin therapy. 
• Type 2 Diabetes – Managed with lifestyle changes, oral medications, and/or insulin. 
• Gestational Diabetes – High blood sugar during pregnancy, requiring careful management. 
• Metabolic Syndrome – A cluster of conditions including high blood sugar, excess fat, and high cholesterol. 

Treatments: Blood sugar monitoring, insulin therapy, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), lifestyle modifications, and diabetes education. 

• Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid) – Causes fatigue, weight gain, and cold intolerance. 
• Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid) – Leads to weight loss, rapid heartbeat, and anxiety. 
• Goiter & Thyroid Nodules – Enlargement or abnormal growths in the thyroid. 
• Thyroid Cancer – Includes papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid cancer. 

Treatments: Thyroid hormone replacement therapy, antithyroid medications, radioactive iodine, thyroidectomy, and targeted therapies for thyroid cancer. 

• Over or Under Production of Hormones – Affecting metabolism, stress response, and fertility. 
• Menopause & Hormonal Changes – Symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and bone loss. 
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – Irregular periods, weight gain, and hormonal imbalances. 

Treatments: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), lifestyle interventions, and medications for hormone regulation. 

• Osteoporosis & Osteopenia – Weakening of bones, increasing fracture risk. 
• Parathyroid Disorders – Overactive or underactive parathyroid glands affecting calcium levels. 

Treatments: Bone density testing, calcium & vitamin D supplements, bisphosphonates, and hormone therapy. 

• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) – Linked to hormonal imbalances. 
• Cholesterol (Lipid) Disorders – Including high LDL, low HDL, and triglyceride imbalances. 

Treatments: Lifestyle modifications, statins, and blood pressure management strategies. 

• Lack of Growth (Short Stature) – Often linked to growth hormone deficiency. 
• Gigantism & Acromegaly – Excessive growth hormone production leading to abnormal growth. 

Treatments: Growth hormone therapy, pituitary function testing, and targeted medications. 

• Adrenal Cancer – Affecting hormone production and metabolism. 
• Pituitary Tumors – Can cause hormone imbalances affecting multiple body systems. 
• Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (PNETs) – Rare tumors affecting insulin and digestive hormones. 

Treatments: Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted endocrine therapies. 

Our physicians and certified nurse practitioners work together to coordinate all aspects of your diabetes and endocrine care. Since many of the disorders we treat are chronic, we work with you to develop a long-term management plan to help minimize the impact of your disorder.

• Aetna Select
• Open Access Selects
• Elect Choice
• Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
• Aetna Choice POS II
• Managed Choice
• Open Choice PPO
• Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans

CLS Health does not accept:

• Aetna CVS Marketplace Plans

* Some providers may not accept this insurance, please call to confirm

• Superior Ambetter Core (Complete, Clear, Focused, Standard Silver and Gold)
• Superior Ambetter Value (Clear Value Silver, Focused Value Silver, CMS Standard Silver & Gold Value, Everyday Value Gold)
• Superior Ambetter Virtual (Ambetter Virtual Access Silver, CMS Standard Virtual Access Basic Silver, Ambetter Virtual Access Gold)
• Superior Health Plan CHIP*
• Superior Health Plan MAPD (Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug)
• Superior Health Plan Medicare
• Superior Health Plan MMP Medicaid*
• Superior Health Plan MMP Medicare
• Superior Health Plan STAR*
• Superior Health Plan STAR Kids*
• Superior Health Plan STAR+PLUS*

CLS Health participates in most Blue Cross Blue Shield plans including:

• Blue Choice PPO
• Blue Essentials
• Blue Essentials Access
• HealthSelect
• HealthSelect of Texas In Area
• Consumer Directed HealthSelect in Area
• HealthSelect of Texas Out of State
• Consumer Directed Health Select Out of State
• HealthSelect Secondary 65+
• Medicare Advantage HMO
• Medicare Advantage PPO
• Medicare Advantage Value HMO
• POS
• Traditional/Par Plan
• TRS-Active Care
• TRS-Care Standard
• BCBS MyBlue Health (Marketplace)

*Some providers may not accept Community Health Choice, please call to confirm

• MarketplacePremier
• Medicaid*CHIPCHIP PerinateSTAR
• Medicare AdvantageDual-Special Needs Plan (D-SNP)

CLS Health accepts most Cigna plans, including:

• Cigna HMO
• Cigna Local Plus
• Cigna Open Access Plus
• Cigna PPO

• ChoiceCare PPO
• EPO
• HMO
• HMO Premier
• Medicare Advantage Plans
• HumanaChoice - Medicare Advantage PPO plan
• Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan
• Human Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage HMO & Special Needs Plan
• Military (TRICARE South Region Military Health Plan)
• POS - including Choice POS, National POS Open Access/Plus and Preferred POS Open Access.
• PPO

*Some providers may not accept United Healthcare, please call to confirm

• Commercial, HMO, POS, EPO and PPO Plans (Charter, Choice,Core, Doctors Plan, Freedon, Heritage, Navigate, Nexus ACO, Options PPO, Passport Connect, Select)
• Indemnity
• Medicare Advantage (AARP, Care Improvement Plus, C-SNP, D-SNP, I-SNP, Erickson Advantage, ERS Medicare Advantage, TRS-Care Medicare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare Chronic Complete, UnitedHealthcare Connected (Medicare-Medicaid Plan), UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete, UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage PPO, United Healthcare Medicare Complete)
• Community Plans* (CHIP, CHIP Perinate, Star, Star Kids, Star Plus, MMP)
• Wellmed (Wellmed Dual SNP Focus, Wellmed Medicare Advantage Focus)

*Some providers may not accept Wellpoint, please call to confirm

• Medicaid (All Texas Plans Including the Below)*
• CHIP
• CHIP Perinate
• STAR
• STAR+PLUS
• STAR Kids
• Medicare Advantage
• C-SNP
• D-SNP
• I-SNP
• Medicare Advantage HMO
• Medicare-Medicaid (MMP)
• Medicare-Medicaid Program (MMP)
• STAR+PLUS MMP

*Some providers may not accept insurance, please call to confirm

PPO Networks

• Beechstreet PPO
• Carnival Cruise Lines PPO
• Envolve Benefit Options Vision-PPO, HMO
• First Health
• Curative/First Health
• Galaxy Health Network
• HealthSmart Preferred Care
• Accel
• Healthsmart Payors Organization
• Multiplan PPO
• Tricare (Humana) PPO/Prime

Employer-Specific Plans

• Brazoria County Employees – Aetna TPA Brazoria County Employees

Workers’ Compensation Plans

• Workers’ Comp
• Auto & Workers’ Comp

Medicare and Medicare Advantage

• Medicare Traditional
• Medicare Advantage
• Memorial Hermann Health Solutions Commercial and Medicare
• Molina Medicare Complete Care HMO SNP
• Medicare-Medicaid Program (MMP)
• STAR+PLUS MMP
• Alignment Health Plan
• AllyAlign Health
• American Health Plans
• Florida Complete Care
• Gold Kidney Health Plan
• Imperial Health
• Independent Health
• Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington
• Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado
• Mass Advantage
• Presbyterian Health Plan
• PriorityHealth
• Provider Partners
• SCAN
• UCare
• Vantage Health Plan
• Verda Healthcare
• Zing Health

Medicaid and CHIP Programs

• Molina Healthcare* (Marketplace, Medicaid, CHIP, CHIP Perinate, STAR, STAR Kids, STAR+PLUS)
• Texas Children's Health Plans*
• TMHP (Traditional Medicaid) Traditional Medicaid

Specialty Plans

• VA Community Cares Network CCN

An endocrinologist diagnoses and treats hormonal and metabolic disorders, including: 

• Diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes) 
• Thyroid disorders (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer) 
• Osteoporosis and bone disorders 
• Hormonal imbalances (menopause, adrenal disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)) 
• Pituitary and adrenal gland disorders 
• Metabolic disorders and cholesterol (lipid) issues 

The most common condition treated by endocrinologists is diabetes. Endocrinologists help patients manage blood sugar levels, medication, lifestyle changes, and complications related to Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. 

It depends on your insurance plan and healthcare provider. Some insurance policies require a referral from a primary care physician, while others allow direct scheduling with an endocrinologist. Contact your insurance provider for specific guidelines. 

Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) is a blood test that measures average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. It helps diagnose diabetes and prediabetes and monitors how well diabetes is being managed. An A1C level of 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes, while levels below 5.7% are considered normal. 

• High blood sugar (Hyperglycemia) Symptoms: Increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, nausea. Treatment: Adjust medication, hydrate, and monitor levels. 
• Low blood sugar (Hypoglycemia) Symptoms: Dizziness, sweating, shakiness, confusion, irritability. Treatment: Consume fast-acting carbs (juice, glucose tablets) and monitor sugar levels. 

To manage diabetes, limit or avoid: 

• Sugary drinks (soda, fruit juices) 
• Refined carbohydrates (white bread, pastries) 
• Processed foods and trans fats 
• High-sodium foods (processed meats, fast food) 

Instead, consume whole grains, lean proteins, fiber-rich vegetables, and healthy fats. 

When managing diabetes, focus on total carbohydrates, as they impact blood sugar the most. Look for: 

• Total carbohydrates (not just sugar) 
• Fiber content (higher fiber slows blood sugar spikes) 
• Added sugars (minimize intake) 
• Serving size (to calculate actual carb intake) 

Osteoporosis prevention includes: 

• Calcium & Vitamin D intake – Essential for bone strength. 
• Weight-bearing exercises – Walking, strength training, and resistance workouts. 
• Avoid smoking & excessive alcohol consumption – These weaken bones. 

Calcium supplements may be necessary if dietary intake is insufficient, especially for postmenopausal women and older adults. Consult a doctor for recommended doses. 

Thyroid hormone replacement therapy involves taking levothyroxine, a synthetic thyroid hormone, to restore normal thyroid function. It is needed for: 

• Hypothyroidism (Underactive thyroid) – Commonly caused by Hashimoto’s disease. 
• Thyroid removal surgery (thyroidectomy) 
• Certain thyroid cancers 

Patients take a daily pill to maintain proper metabolism, energy levels, and body functions. 

Treatment for pituitary tumors depends on size, type, and symptoms. Options include: 

• Medication – To regulate hormone imbalances. 
• Surgery – Often needed for large tumors affecting vision or hormone production. 
• Radiation therapy – For tumors that can’t be surgically removed. 

There is no known way to prevent pituitary tumors through diet or exercise, but maintaining overall health, managing stress, and regular medical checkups can help detect issues early.