Dr. Stephen Ponder M.D.
Endocronologist (Pediatric) | Pediatric Endocrinology
701 W 5th St Odessa TX, 79763Rating
4/5
About
Stephen W. Ponder MD, FAAP, CDE is a pediatric endocrinologist with 46 years of personal and 32 years of professional experience with type 1 diabetes. He also directs the summer residential children's ...
Education and Training
Univ of Tx Med Branch Galveston, Galveston Tx 1984
Board Certification
PediatricsAmerican Board of PediatricsABP
Provider Details
Dr. Stephen Ponder M.D.'s Expert Contributions
Can a person get diabetes at any age?
The simple answer is yes. Glucose intolerance (a formal way to describe diabetes mellitus) can occur at any ago, from birth to old age. READ MORE
My son has juvenile diabetes. Can this lead to kidney problems?
Kidney disease is always a risk for anyone with diabetes. It can be minimized by taking control of the diabetes. Please locate a diabetes team to help you. READ MORE
My son does not seem to be growing at the same rate as his classmates
Could be a medical condition and would require a careful work up. It could also be normal. Read about constitutional growth delay. It’s a normal variant of growth (aka “late bloomer syndrome”). READ MORE
Why is my daughter gaining weight?
Weight gain comes from gaining more caloric “energy” than what is expended through normal metabolism and activity. It’s possible that her metabolic needs are calorically less than what she consumes, even if that appears normal from your perspective. The best first step is to meet with a pediatric dietitian to assess all sources of caloric intake, food preferences, activity and relationship with food. If that is not revealing, a good history and exam by the primary doctor with appropriate specialist referrals as indicated by that work up, are the best plan for answering this question objectively without bias. Good luck READ MORE
Can juvinile diabetes be reversed?
Type 1 diabetes remains a permanent condition for people who develop it. Much research is ongoing to discover ways to slow down the process which causes diabetes, possibly stop it. But for now, this is an area of active research and not part of daily practice. READ MORE
Can steroids impact the height of my son?
Yes, prolonged steroid use can affect growth, including height (slows down) and weight (might increase). The specifics vary from person to person depending on how the steroid is administered, its potency, and its duration of use. It's important to discuss these concerns with your doctor who prescribed these first before taking any action, since the medication may be critical to their well being in spite of this potential risk. READ MORE
My son is 16 years old but his voice has still not changed. What could be wrong?
Voice breaking usually happens in the middle of puberty in a boy, usually around the time just preceding the growth spurt. This is usually between 12 and 16 depending on the physical stage of puberty the boy is in. READ MORE
Why is my son not gaining weight?
Many possible reasons. GI Tract could be malabsorbing calories, metabolic rate could be high (overactive thyroid), early onset of diabetes (increased thirst and urination), eating disorder, side effect of a new medication (ADHD meds, for example). These are a good start to consider, but there are others and they would be driven by a careful medical history. READ MORE
Can a low carb diet help in controlling an overactive thyroid?
A common cause of overactive thyroid is known as Graves disease. Dietary management has no proven effect on controlling the condition. This disorder is driven by elevated levels of antibodies which mimic the action of a normal hormone (TSH). Of course there are other reasons for high thyroid levels but I am unaware of any effective dietary methods alone which control them. READ MORE
My daughter has a slight swelling around her throat. Could it be a sign of a thyroid imbalance?
Swelling at the front center of the neck is often due to a goiter (enlarged thyroid gland). Whether or not an imbalance is present (too low or too high) depends on signs and symptoms. Some goiters represent problems within the gland, but the gland itself continues to produce thyroid hormone normally. In cases of low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism), the person may be experiencing signs and symptoms such as feeling cold, dry skin, dry brittle hair, constipation, and even heavy menstrual periods for teens and women. Weight gain might be mild at best, contrary to lore. If overactive (hyperthyroidism), signs and symptoms include rapid pulse rate, nervousness, irritability, forgetfulness, inability to focus, significant weight loss, frequent urination and loose stools. Children may experience a steep decline in academic performance or engage in unprecedented risk-taking behaviors. The best plan is to get a good history and physical examination with appropriate laboratory tests based on what is learned and discovered on exam. READ MORE
How is juvenile diabetes managed in small children?
Have you read Sugar Surfing? It has some great ideas and directions. www.sugarsurfing.com Steve Ponder MD, CDE READ MORE
Can an endocronologist recommend a diabetic diet for my child?
I highly recommend a pediatric dietitian who has a CDE credential (certified diabetes educator). Meal plans are best individualized in all persons living with diabetes. READ MORE
Is it necessary to bring my child to an endocrinologist?
Start with your primary care doctor first. READ MORE
How is congenital hypothyroidism treated?
This is unusual given her age, but management is by daily thyroid hormone medication to get and keep her blood levels in a normal range. READ MORE
Can juvenile diabetes be cured?
At this time there is no true "cure" although a tremendous amount of effort is being put into finding better ways to manage it from day to day. READ MORE
If my daughter has an overactive thyroid, will she be overweight?
Overactive thyroid is more likely to result in weight loss, not gain, over time. READ MORE
My daughter is 12 years old and is obese. Do you suggest a bariatric surgery for her?
It often hinges on how many obesity-related diseases and complications she already has. Weight loss surgery is still done very infrequently in obese teens. READ MORE
My daughter is 14 years old and hasn't gotten her period. The doctor says it's normal but I'm worried.
Assuming she has developed into a young adult body, it could take until age 16 before an in depth evaluation would be needed. READ MORE
My son has vitamin D deficiency. What should I do?
Discuss with your doctor the use of over the counter vitamin d3 supplements. Often 400 to 800 IU daily is perfectly safe. READ MORE
My daughter has increased TSH levels and is on thyronorm 25mg. Will it be a lifelong medication for her?
The answer to your question depends on the diagnosis. TSH can be elevated for many reasons, not only hypothyroidism. If it is due to autoimmune disease then it is more likely to be a permanent condition. If it's associated with being overweight or obese, then weight loss might help lower the result if the highest the TSH ever got was 9 or less. READ MORE
Awards
- Texas Super Doctors 2010-2011
Dr. Stephen Ponder M.D.'s Practice location
Practice At 701 W 5th St
701 W 5th St -Odessa, TX 79763Get Direction
Practice At 421 N Tom Green Ave
421 N Tom Green Ave -Odessa, TX 79761Get Direction
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