To whom the Diabetology Clinic is addressed

The "Agios Loukas" Clinic operates a regular external Diabetes Clinic which accepts patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) on a regular basis. The Clinic is addressed to patients with:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Type 1 diabetes
  
• Other forms of DM
• Gestational diabetes

It is also addressed to people with prediabetes or those who have a family history of diabetes and need periodic evaluation.

Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Diabetes Mellitus

In the Diabetology Clinic, the following activities are carried out aiming at the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Diabetes Mellitus, as well as the timely identification and treatment of its long-term complications:

• Diagnosis and treatment of prediabetes. Prediabetes regression means a reduced likelihood of developing cardiovascular and other complications of diabetes and an increase in life expectancy.

• Education of patients with prediabetes and clinical diabetes in proper nutrition with the administration of individualized diets and physical activity (exercise).
• Regular monitoring of body weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference for controlling abdominal obesity.
• Patient education in identification of early symptoms and signs that may mean diabetes complications. 
• Patient education in the self-control of diabetes with modern glucose meters. 
• Patient education in continuous glucose recording systems (Holter sugar, CGMS) and proper evaluation of their results.
• Administration of individualized medication, when required and explanation in simple words or in writing of the dose and time of taking the medicines. 
• Placement, proper training and regular retraining in the use of insulin pumps.
• Training in the use of insulin with modern means of administration (pens) and the right way and place of injection.

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Why is patient education so important?

Diabetes Mellitus is not a disease that is cured with an operation or with a week-long medication. It is a chronic metabolic disease that requires the persistent and daily intervention of patients themselves. Patients must be informed about the disease and be trained on their treatment. They must also be cooperative and comply with the instructions of the specialist diabetologist. When patients are educated and trained, dozens of problems related to the course of the disease and its complications are automatically solved. For this reason, therefore, patient education is of primary importance for the positive outcome of Diabetes Mellitus. 

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Educating the patient in the prevention, identification and treatment of hypoglycaemia

Hypoglycaemia is the main limiting factor in the proper regulation of diabetes. The Clinic also trains the patient and his/her carers in unacknowledged hypoglycaemia, that is, the one that occurs without classical symptoms and that can quickly lead to hypoglycaemic coma, if not treated.

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Regular ophthalmological examination in patients with Diabetes Mellitus

In collaboration with the fully equipped Ophthalmology Department, a regular ophthalmological examination and early diagnosis and treatment of all the lesions that diabetes can cause in the various parts of the human eye are carried out.

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Complete control of the cardiovascular system 

There is also the possibility of complete and regular control of the cardiovascular system, depending on the case, with innovative bloodless methods and in collaboration with the various laboratories of the Clinic: 

• Ultrasounds
• CT and MRI scanner 
• Stress test
• Tilt test
• 24-hour recording of heart rate and blood pressure
• Angiography 

Thus, the serious cardiovascular complications of diabetes are revealed and treated in a timely manner in the best way by the various special departments of the Clinic and patients gain time and quality of life.

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Prevention and early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy

In collaboration with the Nephrology Department, prevention, early diagnosis and delaying the progression of diabetic nephropathy, which is the most common cause of end-stage renal failure (dialysis), if not treated in time.

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Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetic foot

It is absolutely important to prevent, diagnose and treat early lesions of the lower extremities (diabetic foot) which are due to: 

• Peripheral angiopathy
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Infections 

The main element is diabetic ulcers. They are treated in collaboration with the special Diabetic Foot Clinic and other specialties, such as general surgery, vascular surgery and orthopaedics.

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Diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes

The Clinic specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of all cases of gestational diabetes, either pre-existing or emerging, during pregnancy by administering an individualized diet and insulin therapy, when required, in order to achieve the excellent outcome of the pregnancy and to avoid serious immediate and ulterior complications for the mother and the baby caused by unregulated diabetes in pregnancy.

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Diagnosis and treatment of secondary diabetes

Patients come to the Diabetology Clinic for the diagnosis and treatment of cases of secondary diabetes, such as the one that is related to: 

• Various endocrinopathies
• Diseases of the pancreas
• Cystic fibrosis
• Administration of diabetes medications
  
• Gene disorders
• Other rarer genetic syndromes

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Emergencies

The Diabetology Clinic accepts life-threatening emergencies 24 hours a day, such as: 

• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Hyperglycaemic coma
• Severe hypoglycaemia  
• Hypoglycaemic coma

Also, blood sugar deregulations that are related to other conditions that lead to hospitalisation of patients, as well as to prolong hospitalisation and increased morbidity and mortality, such as: 

• Infections
• Heart attacks 
• Strokes  
• Surgeries 

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