Javier Escalada. PHOTO: Iñigo Chalezquer

"Living with diabetes" will be the topic that will be the focus of the next videochat of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra to be broadcast this Thursday, October 13. department On this occasion, questions from Internet users will be answered in real time by the specialist from the Endocrinology and Nutrition Department of the medical center, Dr. Javier Escalada. Queries can now be sent through the space set up at www.cun.es. The videochat will be broadcast live between 11:00 and 12:00 this Thursday at the web address www.cun.es/videochat/septiembre2011/index.html.

The specialist's answers can be followed in real time through the aforementioned web address. Dr. Escalada will answer a selection of the questions sent in by Internet users. Once the broadcast has finished, the Clinic's website will make the video recording of the specialist's answers available to users. In the following days, the written transcription of the audiovisual content will be published on the same web address. In addition, the answers to those questions that could not be answered live due to the limit of the broadcasting time will be published. The online section of videochats has a monthly periodicity, as it is broadcasted, in schedule from 11 to 12 hours, every second Thursday of each month.

Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is basically characterized by the presence of high concentrations of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia) due to an alteration in the action of insulin or absence of this hormone, which is produced in the pancreas to allow the uptake of glucose by the tissues (mainly muscle) that use it as fuel.

There are two types of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus subject 1 (formerly called juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes) accounts for 10-20% of all cases of diabetes, and is characterized by insulin deficiency from the time of clinical diagnosis, necessitating lifelong insulin replacement therapy. Although most cases are diagnosed around the age of 14, it is now known that it can manifest itself at any age. The main symptoms before diagnosis are usually fatigue, weight loss, intense thirst and continuous urine production, even at night.

Diabetes mellitus subject 2 or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus accounts for 80-90% of diabetes cases. It is characterized by being virtually asymptomatic in its early stages. It is estimated that up to 50% of people with diabetes mellitus subject 2 remain undiagnosed at this time. This results in a delay (often by several years) in the diagnosis of diabetes. Consequently, 20% of people with this pathology subject show signs of complications at the time of diagnosis.

More information on diabetes mellitus subject 1

More information on diabetes mellitus subject 2

Highlights of the curriculum of Dr. Javier Escalada

Specialist of the department of Endocrinology and Nutrition of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, he graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of the Basque Country (1986) and is a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Alcalá de Henares (1994). He spent part of his professional career in the Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition Service at the Ramón y Cajal Hospital in Madrid. He is Adjunct Professor of the School of Medicine of the University of Navarra. To date he has written 50 articles in scientific publications of the specialization program and has presented 90 communications in congresses and other scientific meetings.

More information about Dr. Escalada's CV