Diabetes is a complex syndrome, with multiple pathophysiologic connections. While the vasculometabolic aspects are certainly important, current discourse tends to ignore the endocrine facets of diabetes. We propose the term 'glucocrinology', to define the study of medicine that relates to the relationship of glycaemia with the endocrine system. Glucocrinology includes in its ambit, endocrinopathies that may cause secondary diabetes, coexist with metabolic syndrome, precipitate hypoglycaemia, lead to refractory hyperglycaemia, or simply coexist with diabetes. The concept also covers the role of endocrinotropic drugs in unmasking latent diabetes, worsening hyperglycaemia, or managing diabetes in specific situations, as well as antidiabetic drugs in modulating endocrine disease. Highlighting glucocrinology as a distinct field will enhance the quality of diabetes care, by making it more holistic, comprehensive and clinically oriented. This article will be followed by gland-specific reviews of glucocrinology.
Keywords: Adrenal, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Gonads, Hormones, Metformin, Pituitary, Thyroid..