Diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hypopituitarism and Addison's disease are all hormonal diseases that involve low levels of certain hormones. These diseases could be caused by cancer, infection or autoimmune responses by the body. Hormones are chemicals that are essential to vital body processes such as blood pressure regulation. Their absence could have negative side effects in the body; therefore it is important that such deficiencies be treated.
Insulin
Insulin is used to manage diabetes mellitus, a disease in which there is a deficiency of the hormone. Its role is to help the body absorb glucose for growth and energy production, and insulin does this by transferring glucose in the blood to cells in the body. Insulin is administered through subcutaneous---the area directly under the skin that contains fat---injections. This can be done with syringes and needles, an insulin pump, or with insulin pens and needles.
The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library explains that a rare allergic reaction may occur at the insulin injection site with effects that include redness, pain, burning and swelling. Typical effects of insulin injection are lumpy skin due to fat deposit at the injection site or a depression or indentation in the skin as a result of fat destruction.
Desmopressin
Vasopressin is a hormone that is made by the hypothalamus. After production, the hormone is stored in the pituitary gland. It is then released from the pituitary gland when needed by the body. Vasopressin controls the amount of water the kidneys excrete and central diabetes insipidus is a hormonal disease characterized by low levels of vasopressin.
In this disease, a person produces excessive amounts of dilute urine and experiences intense thirst as a result. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse explains that desmopressin is a synthetic hormone medicine used to treat central diabetes insipidus. It is available as a pill, nasal spray or injection. Some side effects of desmopressin are facial flushing, nausea, headaches, abnormally low blood sodium levels and seizures.
Growth Hormone
Hypopituitarism is a condition in which the pituitary gland secretes low amounts of pituitary hormones such as growth hormone. A lack of growth hormone causes impaired growth in children. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library says that when this hormone is deficient, it is replaced by a synthetic growth hormone such as Somatropin, administered through injections.
References
- The Merck Manuals Onlie Medical Library: Diabetes Mellitus
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Diabetes Insipidus
- Mayo Clinic: Somatropin, Mammalian Derived (Subcutaneous Route, Injection Route)
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Hypopituitarism
- Mayo Clinic: Desmopressin (Nasal Route, Oral Route, Injection Route)
