Dr. Richard A. Guthrie M.D.

Endocrinology-Diabetes | Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

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22015 W. 101st St. N Mount Hope 20, 67108 Show map

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About

Richard A. Guthrie, MD, is a leading endocrinologist and diabetes specialist currently serving patients at Great Plains Diabetes in Wichita, Kansas. Great Plains Diabetes opened in 2014 to provide diabetes care and education in Wichita and surrounding communities. Belinda Childs, APRN and Julie Dvorak, RN, CDE are leading the clinical and education programs for children and adults with diabetes. Dr. Richard Guthrie is the collaborating physician to provide his expertise. Throughout his more than fifty years of practice, he has accrued extensive expertise in endocrinology, diabetes, and pediatric endocrinology. After earning his medical degree in 1960 at the University of Missouri, Dr. Guthrie completed his residency at the same teaching venue. Additionally, in order to stay up to date on all medical advancements in his field, he maintains a professional membership with the Kansas Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the American Diabetes Association. Due to his outstanding achievements, Dr. Guthrie has earned many awards for his dedication to excellence in his field, including Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wichita Business Journal and Alumni of the Year from Graceland University in 1988. Over the years, he has published 30 book chapters, over 100 articles and 4 books.

Dr. Richard A. Guthrie M.D.'s Videos

Education and Training

Univ of Mo, Columbia Sch of Med, Columbia Mo 1960

University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine 1960

Board Certification

PediatricsAmerican Board of PediatricsABP- Pediatric Endocrinology

Provider Details

Male English

Dr. Richard A. Guthrie M.D.

Dr. Richard A. Guthrie M.D.'s Expert Contributions

My Answers

Is hypothyroidism serious?
Yes it is. If untreated it can lead to severe tiredness, heart failure, mental slowness, kidney failure & other organ failure including swelling of the face, edema of the ankles & other problems. It can be fatal in untreated. Treatment is easy- 1 pill a day & check your thyroid values once or twice a year. So don't neglect it. I have had it for 26 years & with proper treatment "it ain't so bad". One pill a day along with my other pills, & a blood test twice a year to adjust dose if needed & I have lived well these 26 yrs. Go for it! READ MORE
My son was diagnosed with thyroid issues?
You didn't say what issues he has. Does he have high or low thyroid? I would guess he has low or your Dr. would have sent him immediately to a specialist or a thyroid surgeon. Rx of low thyroid is easy. Just take 1 pill/day. Your physician may be able to handle or you could request a referral to a pediatric endocrinologist for treatment. The Dr. needs to palpate the gland every 3-6 mo. & test thyroid & TSH (Pituitary Stimulating Hormone) levels frequently at first to find the right medication level the once or twice a year to adjust medication with growth. A pediatric endocrinologist can do all this quickly & easily. I have had low thyroid for 25 years & its no real problem. He can also. READ MORE
What could be the cause of diabetic neuropathy?
Diabetic Neuropathy (NP) is a frequent complication of diabetes. The cause is not completely known but is a loss of the insulation covering of the nerves so they short circuit just like 2 bare electric wires. It is thought to be related to high blood sugar (BS) levels but can occur at fairly low levels. My HbA1c is 6.0% but I also have neuropathy. The most important thing to do is get & keep your BS is good control (HbA1c >7 or 6.5%). There are medicines such as Lyrica that may help. Check your feet daily & see a podiatrist regularly. DR is the most common cause of foot ulcers & amputations. So be alert. READ MORE
Is thyroid cancer curable?
That depends on the type a cancer & at what stage it has progressed. Some types of thyroid cancer do not spread & can be removed by surgery & cured. Some are more severe & can spread throughout the body. If she has this form of cancer & it has not spread yet, it can probably be cured by removal of the thyroid perhaps followed by some chemotherapy or radioactive Iodine. If it has spread more aggressive chemo &/or radioactive iodine will be needed and may or may not cure it. In any event, thyroid cancer is less life threatening than many other forms of cancer & the prognosis is good especially if caught early. READ MORE
What can I do to live a normal life with diabetes?
I'm not sure you can. Diabetes is a serious disease and at present can't be cured. I have had it 26 years & can't get rid of it & life is not "normal" though you can, as I have, adapt to it. The most important thing is KEEP YOUR BLOOD SUGARS DOWN & A1c IN THE NORMAL RANGE (>7 or 6.5%). to prevent complications. If you think life is not normal now, think of how complicated it will be if you develop complications such as blindness, kidney failure, neuropathy of your feet & heart disease. These complications are related to high blood sugar (BR) & are preventable. You can live a fairly normal life with diabetes. 1) get or keep your wt. down 2) follow a good diet-the American Heart Association Prudent American Diet to prevent heart disease is a good one as is the Mediteranian diet. 3) check your BS frequently 4) exercise regularly. 5) limit deserts & concentrated sweets. Follow this advice & you'll quickly adapt to the few restraints & life will be good. I am 83 & worked until I was 80 with the disease. I am retired & having fun even though I have the disease. You can too!! READ MORE
What are the causes of diabetes?
This is a complex question because there are different kinds of diabetes (Type 1 & Type 2 & subtypes of each). I suspect you have Type 2. Both 1 & 2 are a combination of inherited (genetic) and environmental cause, but different genes & environmental causes. Type 1 is genetic with genes carried on the #6 chromosome, but we have not yet identified the environmental trigger, though there are several possibilities. Whatever triggers it, sets off the immune system to attack the pancreas cells that produce insulin & destroying them. Type 2 diabetes is also genetic though the many forms of it suggest many different genes. Last I heard scientists had identified at least 120 possible genes that could cause one form or another of Type 2. The environmental triggers for Type 2 are better known that for Type 1. Overwt. is the most potent trigger. Abdominal fat produces hormones that trigger insulin resistance & make the pancreas cells work harder to keep the blood sugar down. This stress on the pancreas is eventually too much & it wears out sooner than usual & can't make enough insulin to keep up so the blood sugar goes up, viola Diabetes! The outcome is the same if the diabetes is not well controlled-damage to the blood vessels & nerves with blindness, kidney failure, heart disease & nerve pain, & amputations. Get your doctor to send you to a certified diabetes educator & get a good education about your disease & keep the blood sugar in control!! READ MORE
Is a thyroid function test painful?
I'm not sure what test you are asking about. Thyroid disease is usually diagnosed by a simple test for Free T4 (level of thyroid hormone, the FUNCTION) of the thyroid and for TSH (a test of the pituitary FUNCTION). That's usually all that is needed-1 simple blood draw. If the gland is enlarged or there are nodules by palpitation the a sonogram may be performed. This is painless using ultrasound just like they do to look at babies in the womb. That could lead to a biopsy is nodules are found. That requires a needle into the gland but is done with numbing of the skin & is painless. They might also do a radioactive iodine test to look at the nodules for function or malignancy but that is also painless. They drink a liquid that contains a very small amount of radioactive material that is taken up by the gland then they put a counter that counts the radioactivity throughout the gland. It is completely painless. Start with a single blood draw with Free T4 & TSH. Nothing else may be needed. READ MORE
Is hypothyroidism curable?
The simple answer to this is no! Hypothyroid disease is usually caused by an auto-immune process that destroys the gland. And like all other organs with the exception of skin & liver cannot replace itself. So, when it's, gone it's gone. Sorry, but that's the way it is. You will have to take thyroid medication the rest of your life. But that's no big deal - one pill a day. Most people take more pills than that that they get over-the-counter (food supplements, etc.). I have had hypothyroid for 26 years & take the pill along with the rest of my pills each day. It's easy. Good luck! READ MORE
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
There a several symptoms of diabetes but the main ones are polyuria (excess urination), polydipsia (excess thirst), & polyphagia ( hunger with wt. loss). Overwt. is a causative factor & should be controlled. You can get a list of all the symptoms & factors that influence diabetes from the American Diabetes Association at a local office or if there is none near you contact the national office on the internet. You can GOOGLE it. READ MORE
What tests diagnose diabetes?
There are several ways diabetes can be diagnosed. 1) a Fasting Blood Glucose test. This may require a blood draw or a finger stick. a value of 126 or greater is diabetes. Below this is either Pre-diabetes or normal depending on the level. 3) a Hemoglobin A1c test (HbA1c). This can be done on a single blood draw or in some offices on a finger stick. A value less than 5.8% is normal, 5.8-6.5% is prediabetes, & >6.5% is diabetes. 3) an oral glucose tolerance test. This requires to drink an overly sweet drink, then do several blood draws over a 3 hour period. A 2 hour value of blood glucose >200 is diabetes, <200 but >140 is prediabetes and < 140 is normal. 4) A FBS > 200 at any time if you have any symptoms of diabetes such a excess thirst & urination, severe Weight loss, etc. A complete list of symptoms can be obtained from the American Diabetes Association of your town or if none from them on the internet. READ MORE
What tests should I take to see my thyroid levels?
There are only 2 important tests to take as screening but several others is screen says you may have thyroid disease. 1) Tell the doctor if you have any symptoms & have him feel the thyroid gland in your neck to see if you have enlargement or nodules. 2) ID no symptoms (or some) & the gland feels normal the a blood test for thyroid function is needed. There are 2 tests-Free T4 (thyroid hormone) & TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland). If your thyroid is low, the TSH goes up to make the thyroid gland work harder and if the gland is overproducing (hyperthyroid) the TSH goes down. So this is an important test. If any of these tests are abnormal, then further testing is needed but I won't go further here. This is all that's needed now to answer your question, I hope it turns out OK. READ MORE
Why do I feel cold all the time?
There could be many causes. Too many to explain all here. It could be thyroid, heart, blood vessel disease & many others. It could also be lack of insulation i.e. fat. My wife is skinny & always cold. I am a little overwt. thus have some fat to insulate me & keep the eat in, so I am always hot. We fight the battle of the thermostat every day! Please see your DR. and get checked. It may be nothing or it could be serious so get a check up soon. READ MORE
Can diabetes be detected with blood test?
There are several tests that can be done. 1) a fasting blood glucose level in the blood. This can be done by finger stick in 5 seconds. 2) a hemoglobin A1c level. This test measures your average blood sugar over the last 3 months. It is a blood test. 3) a 3 hour Glucose Tolerance Test. This requires you to drink a very sugary drink that tastes awful & draw several blood samples over a 3 hour period. I rarely do this but depend on symptoms, Fasting Blood Glucose level >126 mg/ml and or the HbA1c >6.5%. See your DR. READ MORE
Is hypothyroidism hereditary?
Yes & no. There are many causes of hypothyroid. Some are hereditary. Others are caused by infection, auto-immunity, damage from trauma, surgery, aging, etc. Since you have a strong family history, this suggests you have a heredity form which is usually auto-immune & occurs most commonly in females. Even if heredity you may not get it but if you do get it treated right away because lack of replacement therapy can have many bad effects including heart damage. READ MORE
Can type 2 diabetes cause a heart attack?
Yes it can. Listen to the commercials for some of the latest diabetes drugs. They stress this. High blood sugar causes damage to blood vessels that can cause eye damage with blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke & many other things. This blood vessel damage is caused by chronic poor diabetes control with high blood sugars. Your mother should be monitoring here blood sugar level regularly, getting a Hemoglobin A1c test every 3 0r 4 mo. & working to keep them in normal range. If they are not in range, she needs to insist to her Dr. that she needs a change in the medical regime until it is normal. It can be done. I have had diabetes for 26 years & my HbA1c is 6.0 (normal) & I have no complications. Complications such as heart attack are preventable with good control. Now be aware of the fact that there are other causes of heart disease other than diabetes-age, heredity, cholesterol, hypertension, etc. so try to get all of these tested & controlled. READ MORE
How strict does my diet have to be with type 2 diabetes?
Some dietary changes are needed but this does not have to be so strict as to be unpleasant. How strict you need to be is dependent on several factors such as how severe is your diabetes, do you need to lose wt., etc. Diet for wt. lose may be more difficult that for control of blood sugar. Please get some education about diabetes. See a diabetes educator & a dietician and get educated about your disease. Insurance will pay for diabetes classes. If you have no insurance, a good source of diabetes education is the YMCA. Their course is good & it's cheap. Your Dr. should have gotten you into a diabetes education program where you would get dietary education. Every one with diabetes needs 10-15 hours of diabetes & dietary education. It is your need & your right READ MORE
Can young people be diagnosed with diabetes?
Yes they certainly can. Diabetes associated with diabetes is usually Type 2. We used to call this adult onset diabetes, but in recent years, with the epidemic of overweight children, we are seeing it in them, so we now call it Type 2 diabetes & drop the age reference. In my practice, I have had a child as young as 4 yrs. old with "adult-onset" (Type 2 diabetes), so age is not a factor. Get her to a DR. & get her wt. under control. She may have a pre-diabetic state called Metabolic Syndrome that is without symptoms, but can cause damage. So, get her under control. READ MORE
How can I control my diabetes?
Diabetes is a complex group of diseases, all managed differently. I would advise you to enroll in a diabetes education class by a certified educator to get the full information about the disease. Diabetes causes many severe complications if not properly controlled, & ignorance of the disease & the tools for control is the primary cause of poor control. Your doctor should have taken care of this at the beginning. In my practice, I would not take care of a person with diabetes of any kind if they were not willing to take a 10-15 hr. class from a Certified Diabetes Educator. You can't do right if you don't know what is right. So, find a diabetes educator & get the training needed to get & keep good control. READ MORE
How do diabetics deal with low blood sugar?
I'll try to answer both questions: 1) How does he monitor his sugar? Well, there are many ways. The simplest is, get a blood glucose monitoring machine from the drug store (they do not require a prescription) & some strips for it (they do require a script if you want insurance to pay for them). How frequently he monitors the BS depends on the type of diabetes he has & the treatment program. Monitoring is less frequent with Type 2 diabetes than for Type 1 that requires 4x/d. If he has Type 1 diabetes & is taking insulin, there are now several alternatives- Continuous Glucose Monitoring (called CGMS) which monitors the BS continuously & is read out on a "reader" or a cell phone. Also now there is a new system called Libre that has a small round devise that goes on the arm & is read by a reader. The arm piece needs to be changed every 2 weeks. The first kit with the reader & device costs about $75. The replacement set costs $25, so 2 a month is about $50 a month. This is cheaper than strips & CGMS and does not require finger-sticks. Just place the reader over the device on your arm & get a reading. It's easy & painless & cheap. 2) How to manage low BS? This is a little complex because it depends on how low the BS is & the kind of treatment he is receiving. Low BS is most common in Type 1 diabetes where the person is taking insulin. The cause of the LBS is also a factor. It can be caused by too much medication, taking taking the wrong dose, not eating properly, exercising too much, etc. The most important fact is to prevent the hypoglycemia. So, identify the cause & correct it. To treat, the first thing to do is eat, usually something with a high sugar content. If that doesn't work, or if they are not able to eat or drink, then a shot of a drug called glucagon is needed (there is now a nasal form of this). Then call 911, especially if he doesn't wake up or is convulsing. Get him to the hospital for intravenous glucose solution. BUT MAINLY find the cause & prevent it!!! READ MORE
What is a thyroidectomy?
A thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of the thyroid gland in the neck. There are 3 ways to treat this disease: 1) medication that blocks the thyroid glands output. This requires 2 or 3 pills a day for 1-2 years. 2) Thyroidectomy that you have been recommended 3) treatment with radioactive Iodine to destroy the gland. The latter is the easiest & less traumatic and is what I usually recommend if the thyroid gland is not too large for this treatment, then I would recommend the thyroidectomy. READ MORE

Expert Publications

Data provided by the National Library of Medicine

Faculty Titles & Positions

PROF. EMERITUS KUMC-W 2003 - 2018

Awards

Physician-Clinician of the year 2008 Am. Diabetes Assoc.

Treatments

Metabolic Syndrome

Charities and Philanthropic Endeavors

COMM. OF CHRIST CHURCH, OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL, SMITHSONIAN NATIVE AMERICAN & AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUMS, CIVIL WAR TRUST

Professional Society Memberships

Kansas Medical Society, American Medical Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Diabetes Association

Articles and Publications

He has published 30 book chapters, over 100 articles and 4 to 5 books

What do you attribute your success to?

He was recruited from Missouri to Kansas and was one of the six founders of the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita

Hobbies / Sports

Photography, Teaching

Favorite professional publications

Journal of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Journal of the American Medical Association, Scientific American, Clinical Diabetes Journal

Areas of research

DIABETES AND GROWTH PROBLEMS

Dr. Richard A. Guthrie M.D.'s Practice location

Richard A. A Guthrie

22015 W. 101st St. N -
Mount Hope, 20 67108

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New patients: 316-644-0908

Mon:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tue:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wed:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thu:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Fri:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Sat:Closed
Sun:Closed

Practice At 8533 E 32nd St N

8533 E 32nd St N -
Wichita, KS 67226

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New patients: 316-687-3100

Fax: 316-687-0286

http://www.drguthrie.yourmd.com

Dr. Richard A. Guthrie M.D.'s reviews

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Patient Experience with Dr. Guthrie

4.0

Based on 13 reviews

Dr. Richard A. Guthrie M.D. has a rating of 4 out of 5 stars based on the reviews from 13 patients. FindaTopDoc has aggregated the experiences from real patients to help give you more insights and information on how to choose the best Endocrinology-Diabetes in your area. These reviews do not reflect a providers level of clinical care, but are a compilation of quality indicators such as bedside manner, wait time, staff friendliness, ease of appointment, and knowledge of conditions and treatments.

Media Releases

Get to know Endocrinologist and Diabetes Specialist Dr. Richard A. Guthrie, who serves the Kansas State area at Great Plains Diabetes. Speciality: Endocrinology, Diabetes, Pediatric Endocrinology College: Graceland University Medical School: University of Missouri Hospital Affiliation: Kansas Heart Hospital, Wesley Medical Center, Via Christi Hospital St. Francis Education: Dr. Guthrie completed his Associate of Arts degree from Graceland University. He then graduated with his Medical Degree from the University of Missouri in 1960, Giving him over five decades of experience in his field. Experience: After obtaining his Medicine Degree Dr. Guthrie spent three years active duty US Navy including two years as director of dependence service Sangley Point Naval Station Hospital, Cavite, P.I. He then returned for advanced training at University of Missouri Medical Center for two years residency and three years fellowship in Endocrinology. In 1973 he was recruited to help establish a new medical school in Wichita, Ks as part of the University of Kansas School of Medicine, and was the founding chairman of the department of Pediatrics. Current Position: Great Plains Diabetes Research, Inc is a not-for-profit organization that was co-started in 1982 by Richard A. Guthrie. He is also a professor at the KU School of Medicine-Wichita. Endocrinology: This is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions known as hormones. It is also concerned with the integration of developmental events proliferation, growth, and differentiation, and the psychological or behavioral activities of metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sleep, digestion, respiration, excretion, mood, stress, lactation, movement, reproduction, and sensory perception caused by hormones. Specializations include behavioral endocrinology and comparative endocrinology. The endocrine system consists of several glands, all in different parts of the body, that secrete hormones directly into the blood rather than into a duct system. Hormones have many different functions and modes of action; one hormone may have several effects on different target organs, and, conversely, one target organ may be affected by more than one hormone. Personal: Dr. Guthrie enjoys spending his off time teaching. He is also an avid photographer.