Diabetes

Improving type 1 diabetes screening awareness among women is critical. Here’s why.

Conditions
January 31, 2025

As a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist, the field medical director for type 1 diabetes immunology (T1D) at Sanofi, and someone who was diagnosed with T1D as a child, it’s fair to say that much of my life has revolved around the disease.

I could recite the risk factors for T1D in my sleep; I’ve seen first-hand the perils of an unexpected T1D diagnosis—including diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA); I’m keenly aware that those with …

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How the Olympic spirit can transform diabetes care [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 14, 2024
YouTube video

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Join us as we sit down with Gary Marc Rothenberg, a podiatrist, to explore the unique connections between Olympic-level perseverance and the day-to-day challenges of chronic disease management, specifically diabetes. We discuss how …

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Living with type 1 diabetes: my journey through misconceptions, stigma and resilience

Conditions
October 28, 2024

I was only a child when my life took a sharp turn. At around five or six years old, I started noticing odd changes in my body that I didn’t understand. The day I landed in the hospital was the day the word “diabetes” entered my life, even though I didn’t know what it meant.

I overheard my father telling my mother about my diagnosis, but all I could follow was …

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Celebrating silver: 3 best practices for meeting people where they are with diabetes adherence

Policy
September 29, 2024

During the Olympics and Paralympics, all eyes turn to the best of the best: incredible athletes who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of greatness in hopes of earning one of the most sought-after titles in the world.

“Gold medalist” has a glorious ring to it, and the athletes who earn this honor have every right to be proud. But the mantra of the Olympic movement isn’t “get gold or …

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Why we need to stop blaming people for their diabetes

Conditions
August 27, 2024

“You brought this on yourself with poor eating habits and bad lifestyle choices.”

If you or someone you know has diabetes, you have likely heard this harmful misconception or even thought it yourself.

While the federal government’s proposed pharmacare legislation has spotlighted diabetes—with diabetes medications to be among the first prescriptions included in a new national pharmacare plan—erroneous assumptions and negative judgments about the condition persist.

It is time that we erased the …

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How weight loss drugs are creating a medical dilemma

Meds
July 22, 2024

On my outpatient clinical rotations last year, I saw ample management of heart disease and smoking cessation counseling. I also saw the annual physicals and checkups. But what surprised me was how many patients were on medications that were just now becoming more mainstream. I’m sure you’ve heard of one in particular—Ozempic. But it wasn’t just Ozempic. There was also Wegovy and Mounjaro. These medications, in the family of semaglutides, …

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Overcoming diabetes and chasing dreams [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 12, 2024
YouTube video

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Join us as we sit down with writer Robin D’Amato to discuss her book, Sugar-Free. Robin delves into the inspiring journey of Ginny Eastman, a girl whose passion for basketball begins at six …

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To anesthetize, or not to anesthetize: a pervasive dilemma of the GLP-1 era

Meds
July 9, 2024

Since the United States Food and Drug Administration approved exenatide in 2005, it took decades for the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) to identify and address perioperative safety concerns, if any, among patients using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) such as exenatide. This delay could be due to several factors: GLP-1 RAs were initially used only for managing diabetes and later for obesity, and now potentially for a wide …

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GLP-1 medications for teens: Balancing weight loss and metabolic health [PODCAST]

Podcast
June 19, 2024
YouTube video

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We’re joined by Karla Lester, a pediatrician and certified life and weight coach. Together, we explore the journey of Lizzie and her mother, Jackie, as they navigate the complexities of health, weight, and …

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A lesson in generosity: How one woman helped a stranger afford insulin

Conditions
June 14, 2024

I waited in line at the pharmacy, a familiar chain store. The man in front of me waited patiently for the technician to ring up his meds. I overheard her say to him, “$125.00. That includes your insulin.”

The man bowed his head and smiled politely, showing many missing teeth. He was dressed modestly. I did not know his name. I did not know him. I had never met him before. …

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A story of liver cancer and diabetes [PODCAST]

Podcast
June 13, 2024
YouTube video

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Join us for a discussion on the critical intersection of diabetes and liver disease. Our guest, Sarah Bauer, a pediatrician, shares her personal journey and insights into the recent screening guidelines released by …

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It is time to change the conversation and eliminate the stigma attached to diabetes

Conditions
June 5, 2024

The Canadian federal government’s decision to cover diabetes medication and devices under its new pharmacare plan is a significant step forward in improving the quality of life for the millions of Canadians with diabetes, especially those who struggle to afford treatments.

However, access to medication and devices is not the only factor affecting the well-being of those living with diabetes. That title may be reserved for something we don’t …

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Can weight loss medication interfere with ADHD meds?

Meds
May 20, 2024

Why bother going to work? If I didn’t work, I wouldn’t get paid, so there was that. But it seemed like a pointless exercise. I would stare at my monitor until it was time to go home. On some level I knew I should be, well, working, but I couldn’t collect my scattered thoughts enough to do it. I was also manic. Not the fun kind of mania where everything’s …

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Health care disparities: Navigating complex care [PODCAST]

Podcast
May 19, 2024
YouTube video

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We delve into the challenges faced by individuals who navigate complex health care systems with multiple chronic conditions. Our guest, Gary Marc Rothenberg, a podiatrist, shares his expertise and perspective on Maria’s journey, …

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Growing up with diabetes

Conditions
May 9, 2024

An excerpt from Sugar Free.

“What do you want to do?” Ginny said.

“Chinese jump rope.”

“Tilly, you always want to play Chinese jump rope,” Renée said.

“So?” Tilly said.

Renée didn’t have an answer to that.

They let Tilly go first. Renée and Ginny faced each other, put the large elastic loop that was the jump rope around their ankles, and backed up until it was taut.

“What happened to you?” Tilly said to Ginny. …

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Beyond the headlines: the truth about weight loss drugs [PODCAST]

Podcast
January 6, 2024
YouTube video

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We sit down with David Ahn, an endocrinologist. Join us as we delve into the impact of weight-loss drugs, the role of incretin medications, and their potential to reshape our approach to obesity and overall health.

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High-deductible health plans: a barrier to care for chronic conditions

Policy
December 31, 2023

At the peak of the coronavirus crisis in 2020, American policymakers were faced with the critical challenge of how to encourage as many Americans as possible to be tested for and vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Fortunately, Congress rose to this challenge by passing legislation that, in addition to providing these services to the uninsured, required private insurance plans to eliminate all out-of-pocket costs associated with getting vaccinated or tested. …

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Will GLP-1s allow our society to eschew its responsibility to create a healthy environment?

Meds
November 17, 2023

Since Ozempic entered the cultural zeitgeist, I have been overwhelmed with requests from my patients – both those who meet criteria to start the medication and those who do not – for this new class of “miracle” drug. While it does work like a miracle for some, there are also those for whom the promise rings hollow – those who are unable to tolerate the medications due to side effects, …

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Emergency department burnout: a cry for change

Conditions
November 11, 2023

It’s a busy day in the emergency department. The waiting room is full, and we are short-staffed. I just read an email from administration that morning about how our treat and release times are “slipping,” and in the same breath, they remind us of the importance of patient satisfaction. There are many patients in the department with chronic medical problems or chief complaints that could be interpreted as non-emergent. I …

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Overcoming health challenges: one patient’s story

Conditions
November 2, 2023

The patient was a typical one in my primary care practice, and for those of you in my field, one familiar to you as well. Jim, as we will call him, was a middle-aged, obese male with a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, whose most concerning medical problem was his long history of noncompliance. He came in once a year for the physical his company required but otherwise ignored …

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