Locations
Office
Monterey, CA
Address
Monterey Endocrine & Diabetes Institute, 2 Upper Ragsdale Drive, B-200, Monterey, CA
DirectionsPhone
Practice website
Insurances accepted
Aetna Life Insurance Company
Anthem BC Life & Health Insurance Company
Blue Cross of California
Cigna
Health Net
About
Bio
Current positions include: director of the Monterey Endocrine Diabetes Institute, the medical director of the Diabetes Nutrition Therapy Program at Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula, as well as affiliated Assistant Clinical Professor at University of California, San Francisco. I am a Fellow of the American College of Endocrinology, and have published peer-reviewed articles in such journals as JAMA, Annals of Internal Medicine, Diabetes Care, Diabetes, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, and others.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Endocrinology
Licenses
United States: California
Languages spoken
English, Mandarin
Doctor Q&A
127 Answers
1 Agree
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Complex disease: Gestational diabetes (gdm), like type 2 diabetes, are related metabolic conditions with strong inherited genetic tendencies --- but multiple genes are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Depends on location: The thyroid gland resides at the base of the neck on both sides of the trachea (cartilage-encased breathing tube). The neck lymph nodes that can swell... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 65-year-old female asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Autoimmune thyroid : Elevated levels of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-tpo abs) and elevated levels of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies are seen in autoimmune thyroid di... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Usually 1-2 hours : Checking blood sugar after meals gives important information on the effects of your food choice on your sugar levels, as well as the effectiveness of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Humalog (insulin lispro) lasts ~4 hrs: Lantus (insulin glargine) is basal Insulin that works slowly over ~24 hrs to control fasting (non-meal) glucose. Humalog is fast-acting mealtime Insul... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Possibly: Both hypo and hyperthyroidism can cause erectile dysfunction (impotence). The condition of low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism) is more likely to do so... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Several causes: Hyperhidrosis is the condition in which a person excessively and profusely produces sweat. This can be uncomfortable emotionally and physically. Some ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Not quite same: Farsightedness, or hyperopia, typically is diagnosed in children, who may end up outgrowing this problem. Occasionally they will need correctsive lens... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Fruits in moderation: To help patients control gestational diabetes, experts recommend checking 1-hour post-meal sugar levels. If after eating pomegranates (or other fruits... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
OI collagen disease: Osteogenesis imperfecta (oi) is a congenital disorder of collagen (important component of bone). Oi is present at birth, and leads to repeated fractur... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Depends on items: Povidone iodine (betadine) is found in several topical preparations (scrub, spray, swabs, pads, etc) as a strong antiseptic, used to prevent bacterial... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Not usually related: Gout is related to high uric acid levels causing joint pains and swellings. Low calcium is usually due to kidney disease, parathyroid disease, or medi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Hormonal, anatomic: Secondary amenorrhea refers to absence of menstruation, after previous onset at normal age. Anatomic exam and scans (ultrasound or ct) can assess for ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
High sugar risks: High uncontrolled sugars during pregnancy, whether in type 1 or 2 or gestational diabetes can cause many problems for baby and mother. Pregnant mothe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Hormonal, metabolic: Polycystic ovarian syndrome or pcos is a condition that shows irregular periods, excessive androgens (male hormones) and metabolic disorders (type 2 o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Genetic + lifestyle : Polycystic ovarian syndrome or pcos is a condition that shows irregular periods, excessive androgens (male hormones) and metabolic disorders (type 2 o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Treat high thyroid : Graves' disease is condition in which an enlarged hyperactive thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone, thereby causing weight loss, fast heart r... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 61-year-old female asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Metformin cause gas?: Metformin, a commonly used diabetes medication, causes gastrointestinal discomfort (nausea, gas, diarrhea, bloating) in 20-30% of people. Most people ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Depends on problem: 3 categories of potential health issues from thyroid nodules: a) large size affecting swallowing, breathing, voice ; b) over active production of thyr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Normal sugar levels: For children and non-pregnant adults, normal blood sugar (glucose) level is considered <100 mg/dl in fasting morning state, and <140 mg/dl after a me... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Possibly diabetes: When someone with diabetes mellitus has blood sugar levels over 180 mg/dl, the kidney loses sugar into the urine, which in turn draws out excessive fl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Hypoglycemia symptom: The most common cause of low blood sugar or glucose is from use of diabetes medication --insulin or sulfonylurea. When blood glucose is <60 mg/dl (thr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 54-year-old male asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Oral and injectable: Type 2 diabetes is due to Insulin resistance (inability to drive glucose into muscle and fat), lack of insulin, excess glucose from liver, et al. Most... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Maybe GI pain: Addison's disease, or primary adrenal gland insufficiency, is a condition where the adrenal glands don't make enough cortisol, aldosterone, and adrena... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
May threaten life: Myxedema coma is a life-threatening condition in which a patient has long-standing (usually unrecognized) hypothyroidism that is exacerbated by an acu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Depends on cause: A goiter, or enlarged thyroid, may be associated with either hypothyroidism (hashimoto's disease, iodine deficient), or hyperthyroidism (toxic nodules... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Not usually: The leading causes of Addison' disease in the US are: autoimmune; metastatic cancer; bleeding into adrenal glands; infectious infiltration (such as tu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Specialized care: An endocrinologist who is board-certified is specially trained and qualified to help treat patients who have disorders of hormones and metabolism. The... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Insulin resistance?: These 3 symptoms are all non-specific and can be seen separately in many conditions. But, women with Insulin resistance syndrome and pcos, can show hi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
High sugar risks: High uncontrolled sugars during pregnancy, whether in type 1 or 2 or gestational diabetes can cause many problems for baby and mother. Pregnant mothe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
High thyroid can: Excess thyroid hormone, or hyperthyroidism can lead to many body changes, including increased metabolism/heat production, tremors, fast heart rate and... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Yes to both: Thyroid dysfunction --- either too much thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism) --- can disrupt the male or female reproduct... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Too much dairy: A condition called 'milk alkali syndrome' results from excessive intake of milk over long periods of time. This leads to high blood calcium, leading t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 63-year-old female asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Consider shingles?: The earliest symptom of 'shingles' or reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (previously caused chickenpox) ---is severe pain along a nerve path (... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Changes in hormones: Several studies show that the pre-menstrual interval (3-7 days before period) may be associated with higher blood sugar levels in insulin-requiring wo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Usually many years: Most studies indicate that it takes decades of preceding Insulin resistance/high Insulin levels before the pancreas burns out to result in t2 diabetes... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
High blood sugars: Type 2 diabetes is a condition with high sugars, due to Insulin deficiency, Insulin inefficiency. If uncontrolled, these high sugars will eventually l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Depends on cause: There are many causes of amenorrhea, and thus treatment depends on cause. If due to pcos, then weight loss, exercise, lifestyle change and medications... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Anatomy of thyroid: The ultrasound is a technique using sound waves to look inside the body. The thyroid ultrasound exam specifically measure the thyroid gland size (to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Liver produces sugar: The liver breaks down glycogen to glucose overnight when one is asleep, in order to feed the body (when not eating). In people with type 2 diabetes, t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Rare sexual dysfunct: Omeprazole is a medication that decreases the stomach's production of acid. There are rare reports of men taking Omeprazole who have experienced imp... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Calcium, iron beware: The two substances that most commonly cause decreased stomach absorption of thyroid hormone are calcium and iron. We usually recommend that any vitami... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Depends on problem: 3 major categories of potential health issues caused by thyroid nodules: a) large size affecting swallowing, breathing, voice ; b) over active product... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 55-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
No need to avoid : The thyroid gland is the only organ in the body that uses dietary iodine, by using this element in synthesizing thyroid hormone. However, too much iod... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Usually not thyroid: Thyroid hormone excess and deficiency can both lead to hair loss. Normalizing thyroid levels usually resolves this. People with autoimmune thyroid dis... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Multiple effects: A truly non-functioning thyroid with almost no thyroid hormone synthesis will show many symptoms: most commonly dry hair/nails/skin, mental slowing, l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 74-year-old female asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Autoimmune thyroid: Hashimoto's disease is autoimmune condition where immune system attacks own thyroid gland with antibodies (abs) and white blood cells. This eventually... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Endocrinologist : Endocrinologists specialize in hormonal conditions such as hyperthyroidism . I would recommend the america association of clinical endocrinologists (a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Pituitary or testes?: In general, persistent low testosterone (not transient from acute sickness) is due to dysfunction in pituitary ("master gland"), or testes glands. Che... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 53-year-old male asked:
Dr. James Chuanswered
Endocrinology 27 years experience
Each patient unique: Long-term metformin use can cause vitamin B12 deficiency, which leads to anemia and nerve symptoms in hands/feet. Some patients also develop GI sympto... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
407
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Chu is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Chu is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
I think I may be diabetic from these symptoms should I be tested as last time I wasn't but these symptoms I am experiencing! Thanks for that
HealthTap member
I already was aware of this but I've got two lumps under my nipples which I was told was estrogen and they say its not enough to operate on
HealthTap member
Thank you Dr. Chu. I appreciate your advice. I wish I was forewarned by my dr. about how long the process will take.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
Graduated 1996MD
Awards
Most Influential, First Place, Salinas, CA - Winter
2013
Top Endocrinologist, Second Place, California - Winter
2013
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