In contrast to adrenal fatigue, adrenal insufficiency is a better known and commonly recognized endocrine condition. When your immune response targets the section of your adrenal glands that produce the stress chemicals aldosterone and cortisol, you have an autoimmune variant of the disease. As a result, you are unable to manufacture sufficient amounts of these hormones. Another type of adrenal insufficiency affects persons who are on prolonged courses of high-dose steroids to treat other health problems. Weakness, exhaustion, nausea, dizziness, poor appetite, vomiting, confusion, and even death are signs of both forms of adrenal insufficiency.