Q & A with Endocrinologist Sherif Yacoub-Wasef, MD

Welcome to the Tri-Cities! Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Thank you. It’s good to be here. I was born, raised and went to medical school in Egypt. I came to America in 2000; I did my residency in New York and my specialty training in endocrinology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. I joined HMG in 2008. I now live in Kingsport with my wife and two children.

What kind of medical problems do you deal with in endocrinology?

Endocrinology treats thyroid, adrenal, pituitary gland problems, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Treatment of diabetes is a big part of what we do in clinic. This is a problem I am personally passionate about.

Why is that?

I have seen firsthand how diabetes can damage the body. It can cause blindness, kidney failure, pain and amputations; it also increases one’s risk of getting a heart attack or a stroke. The best approach is to prevent these dangerous complications from happening by controlling the blood sugar and by taking the needed medications.

What is the reason diabetes, as a health problem, is not as well-controlled as we would like it to be?

There are many reasons. First, diabetes is a subtle disease. Many people have had it for years and yet don’t know they have it. Obviously, one cannot address a problem until he knows he has it. Second, there is a stigma about diabetes that makes people give up and not want to fight because they think, ‘What’s the use, anyway?’ Needless to say, that way of thinking is incorrect. The way you treat diabetes makes a big difference in your health in general. We have patients who have had diabetes for 60 years and are in good health today because they took care of themselves. Third, there are some myths and unrealistic expectations that cause people to feel burdened and hassled when they are diagnosed with diabetes. For example, many think they have to starve or never eat anything tasty again, which is not true. Actually, they just need to make wiser food choices and cut back on their portion sizes, and we teach them how to do that while still enjoying food.

Outside of work, what are your interests and hobbies?

I enjoy sports, reading and spending time with my family. The most important thing for me is my Christian faith. It is my relationship with Jesus Christ that gives meaning to everything else in my life.

To learn more about Dr. Yacoub or to schedule an appointment regarding an endocrinology-related issue, please talk with your HMG primary care provider. Or, you may contact Dr. Yacoub’s office directly at (423) 857-2790.