What are the different types of diabetes?

Diabetes can be classified into three different types, namely: Type 1 diabetes: No production of insulin due to defective pancreatic beta cells. Type 2 diabetes: Occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Gestational diabetes: Affects one in five pregnant women in Singapore - when the body produces an inadequate amount of the hormone insulin or when the insulin is not processed properly.

Endocrinology | Sengkang General Hospital

The Endocrinology Service at Sengkang General Hospital offers comprehensive care across the full spectrum of diabetes mellitus and endocrine disorders, including thyroid, pituitary, adrenal, gonadal, calcium, bone, metabolic disorders, as well as obesity-related disorders. Our endocrinology centre covers both inpatient and outpatient care.

The endocrine system plays a major role in many diverse body functions. Patients often suffer from several disorders, some resulting in severe complications. Endocrine problems, including diabetes, thyroid disorders and adrenal disease, affect the lives of millions of Singaporeans. At SKH, our multidisciplinary team of endocrinologists, nurse educators and other allied healthcare personnel including dieticians and physical therapists work together to develop a treatment plan that is customised to the individual patient.

Our Clinical Specialties & Services

The endocrinology clinic at Sengkang General Hospital provides care for the following conditions:

Diabetes mellitus
Lipid disorders such as hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridemia
Obesity and weight problems
Thyroid disorders
Calcium and bone disorders
Osteoporosis
Pituitary disorders
Adrenal disorders
Female Reproductive disorders
Male Hormonal problems
- Hypogonadism, gynaecomastia
Water and electrolyte problems
- Hyponatraemia, Hypokalaemia, suspected diabetes insipidus
- Non-diabetic Hypoglycaemia

Centres/Clinics

Calcium and Metabolic Bone Disease Clinic
- This clinic aims to provide a one-stop diagnostic and treatment centre to evaluate and care for patients with osteoporosis and other metabolic bone disorders.

DEAR (Diabetes Education and Adjustment in Ramadan) Programme
- Knowledge of Diabetes Mellitus and safe lifestyle practices during Ramadan among Muslim patients.

DREAM (Diabetes Risk evaluation for lower Extremity Amputation Management) Programme
- Preventative foot care programme designed to assess peripheral vascular disease, diabetic foot ulcers, Charcot foot and gangrene.

General Diabetes Clinic
- Comprehensive care provided by a multidisciplinary team for those with complex diabetes, including education for diabetes self-management.

General Endocrinology Clinic
- Evaluate and treat patients with known or suspected endocrine disorders.

SWITCH (Sengkang Weight Improvement Therapy and Complete health) Programme
- The SWITCH programme is run by a multidisciplinary team consisting of doctors (surgeons and physicians), dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists and nurses, who work together to deliver a comprehensive programme to guide patients in their weight loss journey.
- SWITCH

Thyroid Nodule Clinic
- A one-stop clinic for the evaluation of thyroid nodules.

Type 1 Diabetes Clinic
- Comprehensive care for patients with Type 1 diabetes

FAQs

Expand All

Diabetes can be classified into three different types, namely:

Type 1 diabetes: No production of insulin due to defective pancreatic beta cells.
Type 2 diabetes: Occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Gestational diabetes: Affects one in five pregnant women in Singapore - when the body produces an inadequate amount of the hormone insulin or when the insulin is not processed properly.

For an appointment with one our endocrine, diabetes or metabolic disorder specialists, please contact us at 6930 6000.

To find a doctor who specialises in a particular endocrine-related condition, use our searchable Find a Doctor resource to locate the doctor's name, specialties. We recommend you first ask your current physician at the GP or Polyclinic for a referral to the SKH doctor you wish to see. Your GP may also recommend a specialist.

Common symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst or hunger, fatigue, frequent urination, nausea and vomiting, unexplained weight loss or gain and in some cases - vision changes.

An endocrinologist is a medical specialist who is trained to deal with conditions caused by hormone issues - such as diabetes, obesity and thyroid conditions. You will need a referral from your GP or doctor to see an endocrinologist.

SKH employs a medication and patient safety programme that seeks to ensure zero harm in the delivery of patient care and treatment. Our care processes are holistically designed and are continuously reviewed for improvement. We also monitor our patient safety indicators and are constantly looking for new and better ways to deliver medical care in a way that is comprehensive, safe and seamless. Additionally, our clinical review team routinely reviews clinical documentation and issues related to patient safety. This translates into optimal care for our patients.

Our Care Team

SKH offers the strength of a multidisciplinary team to help patients meet the challenges of endocrine conditions using a combination of lifestyle interventions and pharmaceutical methods.

News

Patient Care SKH Doctors on blood supply Blood banks in Singapore are facing an uphill task to have enough supply to meet demand and new donors are falling from 20,000 in 2013 to 18,000 in 2024. Dr Jason Chay, Senior Consultant, Department of Pathology, SKH, spoke about the range of treatments and surgeries that require blood and debunked the common misconception that it is only needed by trauma patients. Clin Assoc Prof Winson Tan, Head & Senior Consultant, Department of Colorectal Surgery, SKH, illustrated what happens when a patient suffers severe blood loss during surgery through a demonstration of a colonoscopy on a mannequin simulating a gastrointestinal bleeding case.

17 Sep 2026 | Channel NewsAsia Online Read Story

Education Abbott and Sengkang General Hospital expand partnership to advance early detection of muscle loss and support healthy aging • The expanded three-year collaboration will integrate muscle health screenings into hospital and community settings, train healthcare professionals, and increase public education • Since launching in 2023, the partnership has trained nearly 300 healthcare professionals to assess muscle health and support earlier intervention

09 Sep 2026 Read Story

Patient Care SKH Doctor on Gynecomastia Dr Savitha Ramachandran, Senior Consultant, Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery Services, SKH, shared that Gynecomastia is a benign condition affecting 50 to 60 per cent of teenagers and 30 to 65 per cent of men in Singapore, caused by hormonal imbalances that temporarily elevate oestrogen levels. While the condition often resolves on its own once hormone levels stabilise, Dr Ramachandran noted that those affected may experience feelings of low self-esteem, and that treatment options such as liposuction and surgical removal of breast tissue are considered based on the extent to which the condition affects the individual's daily life.

14 Jul 2026 | The Straits Times, Tamil Murasu Read Story

View All News