The Handoff: Your Week in Endocrinology News – 3/16/17

The Handoff is a weekly roundup of endocrinology and general medicine news covering various developments in subspecialties, as well as pharmaceutical industry, association, and society news.

— Researchers in South Korea are attempting to revolutionize blood sugar monitoring in patients with diabetes: a thin, flexible patch applied to the skin will use a patient’s sweat to determine blood glucose levels.

–The New York Times examines the controversial role that alcohol plays in conversations about weight control.

–In a first-of-its-kind study, international researchers examined a potential link between the genome and obesity in Africans and African-Americans, illustrating the importance of diversity in genome research.

–A powerful series gives a voice to 5 people around the country living with type 2 diabetes, including an engineer from Massachusetts, a retired special education teacher from Brooklyn, and a teenage athlete from Missouri, as they share their daily struggles.

–As it turns out, not all health care plans are created equal: plans offered directly by hospitals or health care systems may provide better customer service compared to private insurers.

–The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted 3 New Drug Applications from Merck and Pfizer for medications containing the investigational SGLT2 inhibitor ertugliflozin.

–It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Girl Scout Cookie season is here again, and CNN Health has ranked each cookie based on nutritional value and how many minutes of exercise are required to burn off the calories in a serving. 

–The American College of Cardiology 66^th Scientific Sessions & Expo kick off tomorrow. Check out Endocrinology Advisor’s preview for what sessions to watch for during the conference.