Jennifer Olson, MD
Oakland Magazine Best East Bay Doctors 2009-2010
(nat'l survery)
Director, Division of Endocrinology
Medical School: St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Residency:: Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland, Oakland, CA
Fellowship: Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA
Board Certification: Pediatric Endocrinology
Language(s): English
News Room: Experts Guide
JENNIFER OLSON, MD, ENDOCRINOLOGY
Summary
Jennifer Olson, MD, specializes in endocrine disorders such as diabetes, thyroid disease, and adrenal disorders. Dr. Olson diagnoses and treats children with growth hormone disorders, adrenal insufficiency, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and other conditions of the endocrine glands. She also researches the prevention and intervention of type 1 diabetes. Children diagnosed with obesity-related diabetes are more likely to experience kidney failure and death than adults developing the same health problems.
Compelling Fact
The childhood obesity epidemic has led to children being diagnosed with diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension at younger and younger ages. A generation ago, only middle-aged adults and senior citizens had these illnesses. One of the most severe problems for obese children is sleep apnea, interrupted breathing while sleeping. This sometimes leads to problems with learning and memory. Obese children have a high incidence of orthopedic problems, liver disease and asthma.
Source: National Institutes of Health: Type 2 Diabetes
Expertise
- Diabetes
- Growth Hormones
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
- Thyroid Disease
- Chromosomal Disorders
Type 1 Diabetes
Previously known as “insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus” (IDDM) or “juvenile diabetes,” type 1 diabetes is a life-long condition in which the pancreas stops making insulin. Without insulin, the body is not able to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy.
Type 2 Diabetes
Previously known as “non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus” (NIDDM) or “adult-onset diabetes,” type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes mellitus. About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but either do not make enough insulin or are not able to use the insulin their bodies make.
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
A genetic defect of the adrenal glands that causes a person to lack an enzyme needed for the production of two essential hormones with in the body. The condition affects about 1 in 10,000 to 18,000 children.
Professional and Personal background
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