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Metabolic Clinic
Doctors working in metabolic medicine combine an understanding of biochemistry and metabolism. They deal with adult patients where the chemical processes in the body do not function properly and may cause various health problems.
Nature of the work
The work of doctors in metabolic medicine is very varied, but the overall aim is to improve the quality of patients’ lives and treat their metabolic health conditions. This is a relatively new specialty and helps patients both with common and rare diseases. The opportunities for pursuing research interests are excellent. The range of work in includes treatment of:
- disorders of nutrition – includes patients with obesity and those needing parenteral nutrition (direct administration of nutrition into the bloodstream)
- disorders of lipid metabolism (which may involve cardiovascular risk assessment)
- disorders of calcium metabolism and bone – examples include osteoporosis vitamin D deficiency and kidney stones
- diabetes mellitus
- inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) in adults, such as phenylketonuria
Common procedures/interventions There are many different procedures and interventions in metabolic medicine and these include:
- drug treatments such as insulin and lipid-regulating drugs
- enzyme replacement therapies for inherited metabolic diseases
- bariatric surgery for obesity, such as gastric bypass surgery – where metabolic medicine physicians will work closely with bariatric surgeons
- provision of nutritional support via percutaneous gastrostomies (PEG, an endoscopic procedure) or parenteral nutrition(TPN)
- cardiovascular risk testing, eg for patients with high cholesterol
- use of new biologic treatments for cholesterol disorders
- dynamic tests (“stress tests”) for a wide range of conditions
Want to learn more? Find out more about:
- the working life of a doctor in metabolic medicine
- the entry requirements and training and development
- two first-hand accounts of life:
- as a trainee
- as a consultant in metabolic medicine
.