What is endocrinology and nutrition?
Endocrinology and nutrition is the medical speciality that deals with the study and treatment of diseases of the endocrine system, metabolic disorders and all conditions related to the nutritional process. It studies the functioning and the various diseases of the endocrine system, the glands and their specific secretions called hormones.
It includes theoretical and practical knowledge of the corresponding diagnostic techniques, dietary and therapeutic measures, as well as the rules of preventive medicine related to these fields.
Endocrinology and nutrition specialists look after both outpatients and inpatients, treating all conditions related to the speciality throughout all stages of life.
The Endocrinology and Nutrition Service at Vithas hospitals specialises in very common conditions such as thyroid diseases, diabetes, obesity and lipid elevation.
It also treats endocrine organ conditions, which require a high degree of specialisation due to their infrequency, such as hypothalamus, pituitary, parathyroid, adrenal and male and female gonads.
As for nutrition, this area is responsible for assessing and ensuring the nutritional status of certain patients, such as cancer patients.
The speciality has two branches: organ system-specific, endocrinology, and agent-specific, nutrition.
Which patients is it for?
This unit is aimed at patients with osteoporosis, excess weight or obesity, or patients who have suffered from any type of disease related to the diseases listed below, or who have any abnormalities in the normal functioning of the body:
- Diabetes
- Thyroid diseases
- Metabolism (obesity and malnutrition)
- Hormonal imbalances
- Puberty disorders (delayed and advanced)
- Menstrual cycle disorders in adolescent girls
- Body hair disorders (excess)
- Cholesterol (lipid) disorders
- Short stature and tall stature
- Endocrine gland cancer
- Calcium disorders
- Bone age assessment and height prognosis
Main conditions and diseases
The endocrinology and nutrition clinic treats the following conditions:
Hormone or endocrine gland diseases such as:
- Thyroid
- Parathyroid
- Pituitary
- Adrenal glands
- Endocrinological conditions during pregnancy
- Women’s endocrinology: body hair increases, hormone-related menstrual alterations, prolactin, menopause
- Men’s endocrinology: hypogonadism
Metabolic diseases such as:
- Diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
- Dyslipidemia: hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia
- Bone mineral metabolism Calcium Vitamin D
Nutritional problems that also require dietary advice, such as:
- Obesity
- Malnutrition
- Sarcopenia (muscle mass deficit)
- Nutrition in adolescence, gestation, menopause and ageing
Nutritional support during illness (surgeries, cancer, eating disorders, etc.)
Main diagnostic resources and technology
Body composition study, which allows us to better understand your condition, as well as establish a diagnosis and specific treatment, and know how to monitor its evolution.
This check-up includes a comprehensive assessment consisting of:
- Specific and professional care for children/adolescents
- Collaboration with other medical specialities (Gynaecology, Dermatology, Internal M., Nutrition, General Paediatrics, etc.)
- Personalised studies and tests (day hospital, body composition study, personalised diet, height prediction, etc.)
- Dietary and lifestyle survey
- Assessment of nutritional status and analytical parameters
- Body composition analysis
Main treatments
In this speciality, patients receive personalised treatment according to their needs.
Your specialist will tell you about the monitoring and follow-up check-ups required for your case and, if necessary, will refer you to professionals linked to the speciality.
Areas of specialisation
ENDOCRINOLOGY UNIT
- Neuroendocrinology Clinic
- Thyroid Pathology Clinic
- General Endocrinology Clinic
- Endocrine system functional tests
- Dyslipidemia Clinic
NUTRITION UNIT
- Cancer Diet Clinic
- Preoperative Nutritional Support Clinic
- Diet Therapy Clinic
- Nutritional support to patients admitted through interconsultation
DIABETES UNIT
- Diabetes Clinic
- Diabetes and pregnancy
- Diabetic foot screening
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
OBESITY UNIT
- Medical consultation
- Bariatric Surgery Unit Multidisciplinary
Special services
Vithas offers you high-quality medical care, performing the necessary studies to establish an adequate diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of each patient's endocrinological, metabolic and/or nutritional conditions.
Why come to our clinic?
The endocrinology and nutrition clinic provides comprehensive care for your hormonal problems, as well as any weight-related problems you may have.
We have a highly specialised team in endocrine system disorders as well as in everything related to correct nutrition.
We work with the latest technological advances both from a diagnostic and therapeutic point of view. Our sole goal is to improve your health.
FAQs
Will I have to take any tests?
Your endocrine physician will decide the level of care needed to treat your problem in the most appropriate way and will discuss whether you need to take a diagnostic test. We may request your agreement by signing an informed consent.
I have hypothyroidism, what is it?
Hypothyroidism is a defect in thyroid hormone production. The most common symptoms are weight gain and decreased physical and mental energy. Treating hypothyroidism is very effective and simple. You will need to take an oral treatment to provide the thyroid hormone that the body isn’t producing enough off. If the dose is adequate you will never have hypothyroidism again as your hormone levels will always be normal, like those of someone without thyroid problems.
What is the most appropriate treatment for adult diabetes?
Lifestyle changes are a priority: eating a proper diet, losing weight if overweight and exercising. We have multiple therapeutic treatments that will be adapted to each patient’s particular situation, seeking the greatest effectiveness of treatment and ensuring an optimal quality of life.
When should a lump in the thyroid be operated on?
These are nodules and they require very precise tests to distinguish a benign nodule from a malignant one. The most useful test is to puncture the nodule with a thin needle and study the product obtained under a microscope. They must be operated on when they are very significant and when thyroid cancer is suspected. The problem is that these nodules are very common, while thyroid cancer is rarer and usually unaggressive.
Should I see a doctor if I have diabetes and have no symptoms?
Diabetes only gives symptoms when blood glucose is very high, but not-so-high blood glucose values can cause long-term deterioration of vital organs such as heart, eyesight, kidney, etc. and have serious consequences. Proper treatment can prevent complications later on without impairing your quality of life. Therefore, you should go to the doctor, even if you have no symptoms.
I have a tumour in my pituitary gland, is it serious?
The most important thing is to determine the size of the tumour and whether or not it is producing hormones. A pituitary resonance and specific test will determine this so that we can prescribe the appropriate treatment, which may be to do nothing, effective medical treatment or, in the last case scenario, surgically remove the tumour. They are usually benign tumours, and adequate treatment is almost always an option.
