Elara DeschampsQuebec broadcaster and entrepreneur Maïka Desnoyers announced on September 16, 2026 — in tears on the season premiere of her podcast C'est quoi ton style? — that she would be pausing her co-hosting role for at least several months. The cause: a diagnosis of secondary adrenal insufficiency, a hormonal disorder that had been silently dismantling her health through unexplained weight loss, chronic dizziness, vision problems, and dangerously low cortisol levels. For many Canadians watching, the reaction was not just sympathy — it was recognition.
A Public Figure Puts Her Health First
Maïka Desnoyers is known across Quebec as a real estate broker, media personality, and former Miss Universe Canada competitor. Over recent months, fans noticed a visible change: significant weight loss, a pallor she hadn't had before, and posts hinting that something was seriously wrong. She confirmed on September 16 that she had spent months struggling to find answers while her symptoms worsened — dizziness so severe it affected her vision, kidney concerns, and what she described as "dark thoughts" during the lowest moments of her health crisis.
After visiting a medical clinic and undergoing a battery of blood tests, her doctors finally identified the cause: secondary adrenal insufficiency. Her cortisol levels were abnormally low. She will now manage the condition daily with Cortef, the brand name for hydrocortisone — a synthetic cortisol replacement.
"For a duration that is indeterminate — several months at minimum, at least through the holiday season," she said through tears alongside co-host Bianca Savoie.
Her willingness to name the condition publicly has shone a light on a disorder that affects roughly 1 in 10,000 Canadians — and that is frequently misdiagnosed for a year or more before anyone runs the right test.
What Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency Actually Means
Adrenal insufficiency comes in two clinically distinct forms. Primary adrenal insufficiency — known as Addison's disease — occurs when the adrenal glands themselves are damaged or destroyed, preventing production of both cortisol and the hormone aldosterone. Secondary adrenal insufficiency, the form confirmed in Desnoyers, originates higher up the hormonal chain: the pituitary gland fails to release enough ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), the chemical signal that tells the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. The glands themselves may be functioning perfectly — but without the signal, they produce nothing.
This distinction carries real clinical consequences:
- Primary insufficiency tends to cause salt cravings, darkening of the skin (particularly in skin creases), and measurable sodium-potassium imbalances in blood work
- Secondary insufficiency presents far more subtly — persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, nausea, low blood pressure, low mood — without the skin changes that might prompt a more targeted investigation
Both forms, however, share the most dangerous aspect of the condition: the potential for adrenal crisis. According to the Canadian Addison Society, an adrenal crisis occurs when cortisol drops to a critical level during physical stress — illness, injury, surgery, or even extreme emotional distress. Without cortisol, the body cannot regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, or the inflammatory response. Crisis symptoms include severe vomiting, debilitating muscle weakness, dangerously low blood pressure, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Left untreated, adrenal crisis is fatal.
The Long Road to Diagnosis: Why Canadians Wait So Long
Desnoyers' months of unanswered symptoms is not an outlier — it is the rule. Endocrinology researchers note that the average Canadian with secondary adrenal insufficiency sees between three and five physicians over 12 to 18 months before arriving at the correct diagnosis. The reason is straightforward: the symptoms overlap almost perfectly with conditions that are far more prevalent — hypothyroidism, iron-deficiency anemia, depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
A family physician seeing a patient with fatigue, weight loss, and persistent low mood will statistically and reasonably reach for common explanations first. The morning cortisol blood test — the standard first-line investigation for adrenal insufficiency in Canada — is not part of a routine annual panel. It must be specifically requested. And it must be drawn at the right time: between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., when the body's cortisol naturally peaks. A test drawn mid-afternoon will return a lower value regardless of adrenal function, potentially triggering unnecessary further investigation or, worse, false reassurance.
An endocrinologist, or a physician with specific expertise in hormonal disorders, is the right specialist to request once a cortisol concern is flagged. But getting there requires a referral — and referrals require a GP who has considered the diagnosis. Patients who understand the clinical threshold and know the right questions to ask consistently reach diagnosis faster.
When Warning Signs Stack Up: A Concrete Scenario for Canadians
Consider a 34-year-old woman in Ottawa who has been experiencing profound fatigue for eight months. She has lost 7 kilograms without changing her diet. She gets dizzy when she stands up from her desk. Her GP ordered a complete blood count and thyroid-stimulating hormone test — both came back within normal range. She's been told it is likely burnout or anxiety.
Here is what the clinical pathway looks like, with the numbers that matter:
Step 1 — Morning cortisol test: If her 8 a.m. serum cortisol result comes back below 138 nmol/L, Canadian clinical guidelines classify this as suspicious for adrenal insufficiency. Her GP should refer to endocrinology within four to six weeks.
Step 2 — ACTH stimulation test: An endocrinologist administers synthetic ACTH and measures the cortisol response. If her cortisol peaks below 500 nmol/L at the 30- or 60-minute mark, secondary adrenal insufficiency is confirmed.
Step 3 — Pituitary imaging: Because secondary insufficiency involves the pituitary gland, an MRI of the brain is typically ordered to rule out a pituitary adenoma (benign tumour) or structural abnormality. In approximately 15–20% of secondary insufficiency cases, a pituitary lesion is found.
Step 4 — Treatment initiation: Oral hydrocortisone is prescribed, typically at 15 to 25 mg per day divided across two or three doses to replicate the body's natural cortisol rhythm. Stress dosing protocols — instructions to double or triple the dose during fever, illness, or surgery — are provided immediately, along with an emergency hydrocortisone injection kit for her household.
The if/then rule that matters most: If she experiences vomiting during any illness and cannot keep her oral medication down, she must receive an emergency intramuscular hydrocortisone injection within the hour. Without it, she risks entering adrenal crisis — a medical emergency. This protocol is non-negotiable once the diagnosis is confirmed.
Without the diagnosis, none of this protection exists. She remains vulnerable to a crisis she does not know is possible.
What to Do If You Recognize These Symptoms
The combination that ultimately pointed Maïka Desnoyers toward her diagnosis — unexplained weight loss, relentless fatigue, dizziness on standing, and a sense that something is fundamentally wrong despite normal routine bloodwork — is a pattern that Canadian endocrinologists describe as a classic secondary insufficiency presentation. The challenge is that "normal routine bloodwork" does not include a morning cortisol level unless someone specifically orders it.
If you have been living with this cluster of symptoms and have been told that stress or burnout is the explanation, there are practical next steps to take before your next appointment:
- Request a morning cortisol test specifically, drawn before 9 a.m. If your GP is unfamiliar with the threshold (138 nmol/L for suspicion, with follow-up below 276 nmol/L), ask for a referral to an endocrinologist directly
- Ask whether an ACTH stimulation test has been considered
- Document all symptoms with dates — unexplained weight changes, episodes of extreme dizziness, nausea, low blood pressure readings, and mood changes are all clinically relevant
- Contact the Canadian Addison Society at addisonsociety.ca for patient resources, support groups, and guidance on navigating the Canadian healthcare system with a suspected adrenal condition
Connecting with a physician who specializes in hormonal and endocrine disorders through a medical expert platform gives you the opportunity to review your existing test results, understand what has and has not been investigated, and ask targeted questions — without waiting months for a specialist appointment in an already stretched system.
Maïka Desnoyers put a name to a condition that tens of thousands of Canadians are currently experiencing without knowing it. If her story resonates with you, the next step is asking the right person the right question.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately.
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