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)