Articles related to Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism

This case study describes an adult man with a history of diabetes and hypertension presenting with painful lesions on his arms and legs. The description covers the course of his workup for presumptive infectious dermatitis through differential diagnosis when the infectious disease workup revealed sterile lesions, to the final diagnosis of Sweet syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis).

‘Bikini medicine’ (see the Boston Globe article) is an outdated, sexist idea that men and women should be cared for similarly — dubbed as such due to the mistaken belief that women’s health only differs in the parts of women that bikinis cover. A ridiculous notion, considering that cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and autoimmune diseases affect women differently than men. Last time we checked, the bikini doesn’t cover any of them.

Levothyroxine, which is the third most popular drug in the US and the main drug used to treat primary hypothyroidism, also possesses clinically significant interactions with food, beverages, and supplements that can change the safety and efficacy of thyroid-hormone replacement therapies. This review article from Pharmaceuticals reviews 925 hypothyroid patients that highlighted “disturbing” lifestyle and diet patterns.

Although many studies have claimed that moderate alcohol consumption and drinks such as red wine can be healthy for the human heart, a new study presented at the European Society of Cardiology 2022 meeting takes a contrarian viewpoint and draws a link between alcohol consumption and heart failure in people with hypertension, diabetes, or obesity.

A new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine looks at the link between cardiovascular disease among adults with type 2 diabetes, which might be more prevalent than previously thought. This study compares cardiovascular outcomes in patients taking first line metformin vs. SGLT-2 inhibitors, based on claims data over a 7-year period. SGLT-2 inhibitor use was associated with lower rates of hospitalization for heart failure and all cause mortality. Rates for MI and stroke were similar for the two treatments.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a first-in-class, once-weekly, dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that integrates the actions of both incretins into a single molecule. It enhances first- and second-phase insulin secretion, and reduces glucagon levels, both in a glucose-dependent manner. The FDA approval of Mounjaro as an adjunct therapy to diet and exercise for adults with type 2 diabetes was based on clinical trials where treatment with Mounjaro resulted in statistically significant reduction in both A1c and weight vs. semaglutide, insulin degludec, and insulin glargine.