The Handoff: Your Week in Endocrinology News – 3/24/17

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.

–Research published in JAMA suggest that diabetic complications and comorbidities are increased in young adults with type 2 vs type 1 diabetes. After adjustment for established risk factors, type 2 diabetes was associated with a significantly increased risk for diabetic kidney disease, retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy compared with type 1 diabetes.

–Pharmaceutical companies spent over $6 billion on direct-to-consumer television advertising in 2016 — a 5% increased from 2015. The American Medical Association, however, has taken a firm stance in opposition, stating that some advertisements may be driving the demand for costly treatments that may not be more clinically effective than cheaper alternatives.

–A study published in the International Journal of Obesity questions if 15,000 steps should be our new daily exercise target. The study expands upon findings from the London Transit Workers Study.

–Decades-old advice to pregnant mothers — get plenty of rest and eat for 2 — is being challenged as high-quality studies show the safety and efficacy of maternal exercise during pregnancy.

–According to research presented at the 66^th Annual Scientific Session & Expo of the American College of Cardiology, patients with diabetes are more likely to experience delayed presentation of symptoms in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared with those without diabetes.

–Research from the European Journal of Endocrinology found that following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, patients may experience a “progressive deterioration in bone microarchitecture and estimated strength.”

–Expert praise of Repatha® (evolocumab, Amgen), a highly anticipated PCSK9 inhibitor, has been slow to come, according to a piece in the New York Times. While the drug does drastically reduce LDL-cholesterol, the drug’s high cost and possible safety issues may not make it a viable option for all patients.

–Climate change may drastically increase cases of type 2 diabetes, according to Dutch investigators, although further research is needed to conclusively determine why the link exists.

–If the eyes are the window to the soul, can a selfie be the window to… a thyroid cancer diagnosis? Actress-producer Lorna Nickson Brown spoke to Teen Vogue about her diagnosis and overlooking a common symptom.

–Data enthusiasts, rejoice: the (costly) practice of wearing a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) — typically the domain of people with type 1 diabetes — has become more common among those without the condition. While there are no negative side effects, no data exists showing that CGM use can improve the health of a person without diabetes.

–The American Thyroid Association (ATA) Spring 2017 Satellite Symposium will examine the effects of hypothyroidism and thyroid hormone therapy on patients, asking the question “Hypothyroidism: Where Are We Now?” The symposium takes place on Friday, March 31^st in Orlando, FL.