Frequently Asked Questions

Endocrinology is the study of hormones in the body. There are numerous hormones produced by glands in the body including the pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, ovary and testis.

An endocrinologist is a specialist who deals with disorders that are caused as a result of abnormal glands, their hormonal functions and their related disorders. These encompass a wide range of problems including overactive or underactive thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, cholesterol abnormalities, hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes is increasing all over the world. It is common fact that it is linked to very serious health complications including heart disease, stroke, amputation, kidney failure and blindness. However, it is good to know that the risk of diabetes and its complications can be reduced.

Many people do not need to doctor to tell them how to reduce their blood sugars. The internet is full of websites advising low sugar, low calorie and the next new tablet that promises to cure the disease. Furthermore, many healthcare providers look after people with diabetes as well.

At Arden Endocrinology Specialist Clinic, we focus on the individual and not the disease. We firmly believe in the ethos ‘ I want to live with diabetes, not suffer from it’

We aim to help you individualize your treatment depending on your circumstances and occupation. We believe that diabetes is not just about the sugar results but the individual who has it. We understand that there is a life beyond diabetes and we try to help people cope with the condition and develop a therapy that is right for them.

We provide comprehensive screening and treatment for diabetes mellitus. At Arden, we pride ourselves in having all the tools and modern facilities that can help you diagnose, screen and treat your condition. We have facilities such as HbA1c and urine microalbumin testing, retinal photography which enables us to detect eye disease, neurothesiometers and Doppler scans to enable early detection of foot disease.

Our experienced doctors will advise and help you develop a treatment that is right for you and your lifestyle.

We also offer specialized treatments such as insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring systems for our patients.

Testosterone in a male may become deficient due to disease affecting either his pituitary gland (in the brain) or his testes. Older men may also suffer the effects of low testosterone due to the natural decline of testosterone with age (a.k.a. andropause). Common symptoms include breast formation, lack of morning erections, sexual thoughts, libido and poor erectile quality. Other men may also experience poor sleep patterns, weight gain, poorer mental concentration, mood swings, unexplained sweating and hot flushes.

Apart from subfertility, poor bone health and a poorer quality of life, low testosterone is strongly associated with obesity and the development of diabetes. Severe cases have been linked with higher mortality

Many men are shy to discuss the symptoms they are experiencing. However, there is absolutely no need to suffer in silence. At Arden, we value your need for privacy and confidentiality. Your androgen status may be easily assessed via an interview, physical examination and a series of morning blood tests. Various forms of treatment that are simple, safe and effective, are readily available for men with testosterone deficiency that will restore your confidence and quality of life.

It’s not just about the number on the scale. For Asian populations, a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23 or higher signals overweight, and 27.5 or higher signals obesity. Waist size matters just as much — more than 90 cm in men or 80 cm in women increases health risks, even if your BMI looks “okay.”

We also look at your overall health: are you developing diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep problems? And importantly, is your weight affecting your energy, mobility, or daily activities? A doctor’s assessment puts these pieces together and helps you decide whether losing weight would benefit your long-term health.

The “sweet spot” is about 0.5 to 1 kilogram per week, which translates to 2–4 kilograms per month. This pace helps you lose fat rather than muscle, avoids nutritional deficiencies, and makes it easier to keep the weight off. Rapid weight loss often leads to rapid regain — sustainable lifestyle changes matter far more than crash diets.

From your 30s onwards, muscle mass gradually declines, and since muscle burns more calories than fat, your metabolism slows. Hormonal shifts — such as lower testosterone in men or menopause in women — change how the body stores fat.

Add in reduced activity levels, disrupted sleep, and medications that affect metabolism, and the odds stack up against effortless weight loss. But age doesn’t make weight loss impossible — it just means strength training, protein intake, and sleep become even more important.

There’s no one “magic” diet. Low-carb, Mediterranean, intermittent fasting — all can work if they help you eat fewer calories than you burn. The key predictor of success is whether you can actually stick to it. A diet that cuts out your favourite foods entirely usually backfires.

A better approach is focusing on whole foods, adequate protein, vegetables, and reasonable portions. Personalised plans that respect your culture and lifestyle are far more sustainable than cookie-cutter diets.

Carbohydrates are your body’s main energy source and are essential for brain and muscle function. The real issue isn’t carbs in general, but which carbs and how much. Swapping refined carbs (white bread, sugary drinks) for complex ones (brown rice, lentils, fruits, vegetables) makes a big difference.

Very low-carb diets can help in the short term but aren’t better than other balanced diets for long-term success. Most people do best with moderate, good-quality carbs included.

Protein helps preserve muscle mass when you’re losing weight, which in turn keeps your metabolism higher. It also keeps you fuller for longer, reducing snacking and overeating. Aim for 1.2–1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily, spaced across meals. Sources include lean meat, fish, eggs, dairy, tofu, and legumes. Think of protein as the foundation that makes your weight loss efforts more effective.

Yes, you can lose weight through diet alone, but the combination of diet and exercise is much more effective. Exercise not only helps burn calories but also protects muscle, improves mood, lowers stress, and makes long-term weight maintenance easier. Even simple activities like walking, climbing stairs, or home bodyweight exercises add up. The point isn’t to exercise like an athlete but to move more consistently.

A blend of cardio and strength training works best. Cardio (like brisk walking, cycling, or swimming) helps burn calories, while strength training builds muscle that boosts your metabolism even at rest. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) can be especially efficient if you’re short on time. The best exercise is the one you actually enjoy and can stick to — consistency is more important than intensity.

Your body isn’t a calculator. Genetics, hormones, sleep, stress, and even gut bacteria influence how your body responds to a given diet. One person may drop kilos quickly, while another struggles despite equal effort. This is why personalised plans and ongoing adjustments with a healthcare provider work better than rigid, one-size-fits-all diets.

Seek medical advice if your BMI is above 27.5, or above 23 with conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. You should also see a doctor if you’ve tried losing weight for months without progress, or if you’re experiencing unexplained weight changes. Medical evaluation can identify hidden causes such as thyroid disease, PCOS, or medication side effects, and guide you to safe, effective options — including medications or surgery when appropriate.

Modern medications can be very effective when prescribed appropriately. They work in different ways — some curb appetite, others influence gut hormones, and some reduce fat absorption. They’re usually reserved for people with significant health risks (BMI ≥ 30, or ≥ 27 with medical conditions). They must be used with lifestyle changes, not instead of them. Side effects vary, but with proper monitoring, many people tolerate them well and achieve meaningful results.

Conditions like hypothyroidism, PCOS, Cushing’s syndrome, and insulin resistance can all interfere with weight loss. Certain medications — including some antidepressants, antipsychotics, corticosteroids, and diabetes drugs — can also cause weight gain. Sleep apnoea, depression, and chronic stress may add further challenges. If your efforts aren’t working despite consistency, it’s worth checking for these underlying issues.

Definitely. Many people notice improvements in sleep quality (especially if they snore or have sleep apnoea), joint pain, fertility, and energy levels. Mood, self-confidence, and quality of life often improve too. These early wins often appear even before major weight loss has happened — another reason small, steady changes are worthwhile.

Think lifestyle, not “diet.” People who maintain weight loss successfully tend to monitor their weight regularly, stay physically active most days, and plan their meals instead of eating reactively. Sleep, stress management, and social support all matter too. Expect small ups and downs — what matters is how quickly you return to your healthy habits, not perfection. Weight maintenance is an ongoing process, not a one-time goal.

Poor sleep throws your hormones off balance — raising ghrelin (which increases hunger) and lowering leptin (which signals fullness). It also reduces insulin sensitivity and makes you crave high-calorie foods. If you’re sleeping less than 7 hours regularly, your weight loss efforts will feel twice as hard. Prioritising consistent, good-quality sleep is one of the simplest yet most overlooked strategies for weight management.

Plateaus are normal. As you lose weight, your body burns fewer calories just to exist, so your earlier calorie deficit may no longer be enough. Motivation and tracking may also slip.

To break through, reassess your calorie needs, tighten up your food tracking, vary your workouts, or add more strength training. Sometimes taking a short break at maintenance calories can also help reset your metabolism and mindset. Patience is key — plateaus usually pass if you stay consistent.

Yes. Men typically lose weight faster thanks to higher muscle mass and testosterone. Women face hormonal fluctuations (periods, pregnancy, menopause) that affect appetite, water retention, and fat distribution. Women also tend to store fat in the hips and thighs, while men accumulate more around the waist — which responds more quickly to diet and exercise. Progress may be slower for women, but focusing on muscle gain and body composition changes often tells a more accurate story than the scale alone.

Chronic stress raises cortisol, which promotes fat storage around the belly. Stress also drives emotional eating, sleep problems, and skipped workouts. In other words, stress makes weight loss harder at every level — hormonal, behavioural, and psychological. Building stress-management habits like regular activity, meditation, good sleep, or even counselling isn’t just good for mental health; it directly supports weight management too.

Some people have extra weight but normal blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. This is sometimes called “metabolically healthy obesity.” The challenge is that this state is often temporary — over time, risks usually catch up. Losing even 5–10% of body weight can significantly reduce long-term risk and improve quality of life, even if you don’t reach your “ideal” weight.

Food is social, cultural, and comforting — so yes, eating habits tied to culture can make weight loss tricky if advice feels unrealistic. In Asia, rice or noodles are staples, and asking someone to “just cut them out” isn’t sustainable. Instead, smaller portions, switching to higher-fibre versions, and balancing plates with more protein and vegetables usually works better. The best diet is one that respects your cultural preferences so that you can stick with it long term.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where your immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. It typically develops in childhood or young adulthood and requires lifelong insulin therapy. Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for about 90% of all diabetes cases, develops when your body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough insulin. It usually occurs in adults over 40 but is increasingly seen in younger people. While Type 1 cannot be prevented, Type 2 diabetes can often be prevented or delayed through lifestyle modifications.

Currently, there is no cure for Type 1 diabetes, and patients require lifelong insulin therapy. For Type 2 diabetes, significant improvement and even remission is possible through comprehensive lifestyle changes and weight loss. Some patients can achieve normal blood glucose levels without medication through sustained dietary changes, regular exercise, and weight management. The underlying tendency toward diabetes remains, requiring continued healthy lifestyle practices. Our endocrinologist can create a personalised management plan based on your specific condition and goals.

Early diabetes symptoms can be subtle and easily overlooked. These include increased thirst and urination, unexplained fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds, frequent infections, and tingling or numbness in hands or feet. Some people experience unexpected weight loss despite normal eating, while others notice darkened skin patches (acanthosis nigricans) in body folds. Many individuals with Type 2 diabetes have no symptoms initially, which is why regular screening is important if you have risk factors like family history, obesity, or sedentary lifestyle.

Diabetes treatment includes several options beyond traditional medications. For Type 2 diabetes, newer drug classes include GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, and DPP-4 inhibitors, which offer benefits beyond blood sugar control. Continuous glucose monitoring systems and insulin pumps provide better management for those requiring insulin. Flash glucose monitoring eliminates frequent finger pricks. Our endocrinologist stays updated with MOH-approved treatments and can recommend options suited to your lifestyle, other health conditions, and treatment goals. Treatment plans are individualised based on factors like diabetes type, severity, complications, and patient preferences.

Monitoring frequency depends on your diabetes type, treatment regimen, and overall control. Type 1 diabetes patients typically check 4-8 times daily, while Type 2 patients on oral medications might check 1-2 times daily or less. Target ranges vary by individual but generally include fasting glucose of 4-7 mmol/L and post-meal levels below 10 mmol/L. Your HbA1c, which reflects average blood sugar over 3 months, should ideally be below 7% for most adults, though targets may be adjusted based on age, complications, and other factors. Our endocrinologist will establish personalised targets and monitoring schedules for you.

Insulin is not necessarily the next step when oral medications become less effective. Several options exist between oral medications and insulin, including combination therapies, injectable non-insulin medications like GLP-1 agonists, and adjusting dosages or timing of current medications. Some patients benefit from adding medications that work through different mechanisms. Lifestyle intensification with structured diet and exercise programmes can also improve medication effectiveness. Our endocrinologist will explore all suitable options before recommending insulin, and if insulin becomes necessary, modern formulations and delivery devices make management much easier than in the past.

Effective diabetes management through diet focuses on controlling carbohydrate intake, choosing low glycaemic index foods, and maintaining consistent meal timing. Rather than eliminating carbohydrates completely, learn to choose complex carbohydrates like whole grains, legumes, and vegetables over refined sugars and processed foods. Portion control is crucial – using the “healthy plate” method with half vegetables, quarter protein, and quarter carbohydrates works well. Include fibre-rich foods to slow glucose absorption, limit saturated fats, and reduce sodium intake. Our endocrinologist can refer you to a dietitian for personalised meal planning that considers your cultural food preferences and lifestyle.

Exercise is beneficial for diabetes management, improving insulin sensitivity and blood glucose control. Most activities are safe with proper precautions. Check blood glucose before, during, and after exercise when starting a new routine. Carry quick-acting carbohydrates for potential low blood sugar episodes. For those on insulin or certain medications, timing of exercise relative to meals and medication is important. Start gradually with 150 minutes of moderate activity weekly, combining aerobic exercise with resistance training. Wear proper footwear and check feet daily. Our endocrinologist can provide specific exercise guidelines based on your medication regimen and fitness level.

Poorly controlled diabetes increases the risk of both short- and long-term complications. In the short term, high blood glucose can cause fatigue, dehydration, and, in severe cases, diabetic ketoacidosis (in Type 1) or hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (in Type 2). Over time, persistently elevated glucose damages blood vessels and nerves, leading to complications such as eye disease (retinopathy), kidney disease (nephropathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), heart disease, and stroke. Good glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol control, together with regular monitoring, can greatly reduce these risks.

Yes, Singapore has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world, with about 1 in 10 adults affected. The main drivers are urban lifestyle factors such as reduced physical activity, high-calorie diets, and increasing rates of obesity. Genetics also play a role, especially among Asian populations who may develop diabetes at lower body weights. National initiatives like Healthier SG and Screen for Life encourage early screening and preventive care, as earlier detection and treatment lead to better outcomes.

Regular follow-up is crucial because diabetes is a progressive condition that requires ongoing adjustments to treatment. Even when blood sugar is stable, scheduled check-ups allow monitoring for complications, review of medications, and reinforcement of lifestyle strategies. Screening tests for the eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves are important as damage can occur silently before symptoms appear. Consistent follow-up ensures timely intervention and helps maintain long-term health.