Metabolic Diseases

With the term Metabolism we refer to various processes that occur in our body with the ultimate goal of our health. Metabolic disorders are considered to be those processes that deregulate some of the body's biochemical pathways and thus we are led to the need to take drugs chronically to recover our health.

Metabolic disorders include a series of diseases with different symptoms and a wide variety of harmful effects on our body. In our Clinic we monitor people with Diabetes which is a metabolic disorder, but also patients with the following diseases, regardless of the presence or not of Diabetes.

Dyslipidemia- Hyperlipidemia

The body's lipids circulate bound to lipoproteins and thus in the Biochemical analysis of the monitoring of lipid metabolism we monitor the following parameters: HDL, LDL, VLDL, triglycerides.

Disorders of the metabolism of lipids also lead to their deposition on the vessel walls resulting in atherosclerosis which will lead to cardiovascular disease.

There are several common disorders of lipid metabolism, the most important being Familial Hypercholesterolemia. This is due to the existence of a pathological expression of a gene resulting in many members of the same family who have the gene showing it. Laboratory tests show very high cholesterol levels even at young ages. So this phenomenon will lead to the occurrence of heart diseases and strokes at a younger age. For this reason, these individuals should be monitored frequently, receive special treatment and follow the appropriate instructions.

In addition to Familial Hypercholesterolemia there is also Congenital Hypertriglyceridemias which are also due to genes and need special treatment. Almost 40% of adults, however, even if they do not have the specific genetic background, may show various lipid disorders, without necessarily the presence of other diseases or known genetic burdens.

Reactive / Postprandial Hyperglycemia

This is the hypoglycemia that occurs within the first few hours after eating a meal and has nothing to do with the hypoglycemic episodes of prolonged fasting. Its symptoms are hunger, pale skin, weakness, tremors, cold sweats, dizziness, confusion, and anxiety attacks. This hypoglycemia occurs without taking any insulin or antidiabetic tablet. However, reactive hypoglycemia can also be the result of intoxication, previous abdominal surgeries, some tumors, but the most common cause is the presence of insulin resistance. Its treatment is not medicinal and is prevented with special nutritional interventions and exercise. However, any other causes that may be responsible for the occurrence of hypoglycemic episodes should be ruled out.

Insulinoma

Insulin is made and released by the β-cells of the pancreas after stimulation by high blood glucose levels. Many times, however, tumors of the pancreas, such as insulinoma, produce insulin uncontrollably, leading to severe hypoglycemia. Often people with insulinomas are hospitalized in psychiatric units because very low blood sugars, due to constant hypoglycemia, lead the sufferers to confusing phenomena, with aggression and tachycardia.

Pre-Diabetes

In Pre-Diabetes we do not have abnormal sugar values as required to diagnose diabetes, but blood glucose values are higher than normal. If the necessary measures are not taken immediately, sufferers are led to develop type 2 Diabetes. Pre-Diabetes also contributes to the appearance of the chronic complications of Diabetes and for this reason it must be treated immediately.

Common symptoms of Pre-Diabetes that will lead to seeking medical care are thirst, polyuria, feeling hungry, easy fatigue, blurred vision, numbness in feet or hands, recurrent infections and slow healing of skin lesions.

Hypertension

Hypertension is a common condition characterized by values higher than 130/85 mmHg that in the long term, if the levels are not reduced, the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure increases.

Hypertension usually accompanies Diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity, and if one has one of these, the other conditions should be investigated. Stopping smoking, exercising, eating right and taking medication are essential to treating the condition.

Hyperuricemia

This condition is characterized by high levels of uric acid in the blood and is often related to diet or catabolism or when taking chemotherapeutic drugs. High levels of uric acid, in addition to the appearance of gout, can also lead to the formation of kidney stones. Common causes are diuretics, products with high fructose concentration, metabolic syndrome, obesity, psoriasis, leukemia and various genetic syndromes. Dietary adjustments, stopping harmful habits and special medication are required.

In our practice, we monitor patients with the aforementioned syndromes.