Diabetes News You Can Use
Obesity drug compounding persists despite FDA ending shortage
Although the FDA has declared Wegovy and Zepbound shortages over, telehealth companies like OrderlyMeds are still offering compounded versions by modifying ingredients to claim personalization, pushing the boundaries of FDA rules. Chris Spears of OrderlyMeds says he’s fine with his company eventually becoming unnecessary, adding, “I think the longer that the compounded option exists, the further the price gets driven down of the branded, which is overall just a good thing.”
Full Story: National Public Radio (6/12)
Higher glycemia linked to lower cognitive scores
Higher glycemic levels were modestly associated with poorer cognitive outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes, according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine. The GRADE trial found no association between choice of glucose-lowering medications and cognitive performance after four years, but higher A1C levels were linked to lower scores on cognitive tests.
Full Story: Endocrinology Advisor (6/17)
Hospitalizations comparable across diabetes regimens
A study in the journal Diabetes Care found that 32.4% of patients with type 2 diabetes taking metformin, along with one of four other common glucose-lowering drugs, were hospitalized over five years, with similar rates across the treatment groups. The study, which included 5,047 patients, found that compared with patients who were not admitted to the hospital, those who were more often were men and white and less often Hispanic.
Full Story: Medscape (6/5)
Tirzepatide outperforms semaglutide in weight-loss trial
Zepbound, or tirzepatide, was associated with nearly 50% more weight loss than Wegovy, or semaglutide, in a 72-week study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Participants on Zepbound lost, on average, 50 pounds, compared with 33 pounds for those taking Wegovy. Both drugs, which mimic hormones that regulate appetite, had similar side effects, primarily mild gastrointestinal issues.
Full Story: The Associated Press (5/11)
Publication of food safety warnings delayed by staff cuts
The FDA has delayed publicly posting more than a dozen food safety warning letters because the employees who were tasked with reviewing such letters ahead of publication were fired, according to agency staff. The letters, which highlight significant violations, are a key enforcement tool and a public record of a company’s food safety practices. The FDA has rehired some staff, but a backlog remains.
Full Story: NBC News (5/9)
Early celiac screening beneficial with type 1 diabetes
Research published in the Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism found early screening for celiac disease in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes is beneficial. Out of 1,292 children screened, 142 had positive tests for celiac disease.
Full Story: Gastroenterology Advisor (5/12)
Autoantibodies may accelerate diabetes in pediatric pancreatitis
The study published in Diabetes Care highlights that islet autoantibodies positivity is linked with faster onset of diabetes and beta-cell dysfunction in children with acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis. Autoantibody-positive children showed higher HbA1c levels and lower C-peptide levels compared to those without autoantibodies.
Full Story: Endocrinology Advisor (5/13)
Diabetes drugs may be linked to higher fall risk
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors may significantly increase the risk of falls in individuals with type 2 diabetes, and the risk is even greater when these drugs are used in combination with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, researchers reported in the journal Scientific Reports. The study followed 471 patients over a median of two years, finding that SGLT2 inhibitor use was an independent predictor of falls, while GLP-1 receptor agonist use alone was not significantly associated with fall risk.
Full Story: Medscape (4/25)
Type 1 diabetes may raise fracture risks in men, women
Type 1 diabetes was associated with a higher risk of fractures, according to a study presented at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases. The meta-analysis, which included data from 78,130 individuals across 19 countries, found that type 1 diabetes increased the risk of osteoporotic fractures in both men and women, mostly independent of femoral neck bone mineral density.
Full Story: Endocrinology Advisor (4/24)
Hypercortisolism may be linked to resistant diabetes
Research published in the journal Diabetes Care found that 23.8% of patients with resistant type 2 diabetes also had hypercortisolism. “These results add to our understanding of why type 2 diabetes may be difficult to control in some individuals and suggest a potential role for screening for hypercortisolism in individuals in whom glycemic treatment targets are not met despite treatment with multiple medications,” researchers said.
Full Story: Medscape (4/24)
Diabetes Research Center
Related News
Congratulations to this year’s funding awardees
Congratulations to this year’s funding awardees: Dr. Nicholas Chavkin and Dr. Stephen McCartney have been awarded Pilot and Feasibility awards and Ms. Jocelyn Cervantes has been awarded the Stroum Graduate Fellowship award.
NIDDK 75th Anniversary
In celebration of the 75th anniversary of NIDDK, Diabetes Care and Diabetes have published a compendium of ten articles that highlight just a few of the major contributions NIIDK has fostered through its support of research. These articles provide a broad, but clearly not complete, view of the results that have been achieved through their fostering of science across the country. Included amongst these is a paper by members of NIDDK about the research centers including the Diabetes Research Centers Program. There is also an editorial that celebrates NIDDK and at the same times raises concerns about the future of research and public health related to diabetes given the current discussion about the funding and restructuring of NIDDK and CDC.
DRC Affiliate Edward Boyko is Co-Chair of New Diabetes Atlas
DRC affiliate, Edward Boyko, professor (General Internal Medicine) is co-chair of the new edition of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas. As the number of people living with diabetes continues to rise, the latest IDF Diabetes Atlas emphasizes the urgent need for improved prevention, early detection and intervention to tackle the burden diabetes places on individuals, communities, health systems and economies.
Learn more on our news site.
CVTMC Director Karin Bornfeldt Announced as 2025 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Fellow
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) announced that CVTMC Director Karin Bornfeldt, professor (Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition), has been named among its 2025 class of fellows. Designation as a fellow recognizes commitment to the ASBMB through a history of exceptional and sustained service to the society as well as impactful accomplishments in research, education, mentorship, and service to the scientific community. Twenty-four fellows were selected this year. Read more here.
Affiliate Anne Manicone receives Pilot Award
Affiliate Anne Manicone, professor (Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine) received a Pilot Project Award, “Identifying Novel Compounds to Polarize Macrophages toward Reparative States,” from the parent P30 Grant, “Cystic Fibrosis Translational Research in the Post-CFTR Modulator Era,” funded by NIH/NIDDK. This 2-year award will provide $264,000 towards developing new strategies to target chronic inflammation seen in people with Cystic Fibrosis.