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Endocrinologist William Hsu discusses his article, “Reimagining diabetes care with nutrition, not prescriptions.” William argues for a paradigm shift in treating Type 2 diabetes, moving away from a primary reliance on medications …
Reimagining Type 2 diabetes care with nutrition for remission [PODCAST]
There’s an ever-growing body of evidence to suggest that diabetes contributes to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Some even go so far as to dub Alzheimer’s disease “diabetes type III.”
How might diabetes cause Alzheimer’s disease?
It’s the sugar: Chronic high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can damage blood vessels, including those in the brain. This vascular damage reduces oxygen and nutrient delivery to brain cells, increasing …
Diabetes and Alzheimer’s: What your blood sugar might be doing to your brain
In 2025, more than 38 million, or 1 in 10 Americans, live with Type 2 diabetes.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of the modern health care system, traditional care strategies for Type 2 diabetes often vastly overlook long-term individual and societal health outcomes in favor of short-term management of the disease. With over 20 years of experience as an endocrinologist at Harvard’s Joslin Diabetes Center, and as the Chief Medical Officer …
Reimagining diabetes care with nutrition, not prescriptions
Canadians have rallied together like never before to support each other and stand up for Canada in the face of U.S. tariffs and annexation threats.
People living with diabetes need that same spirit of solidarity around them to defeat a persistent stigma about the condition that leaves them feeling blamed, shamed, and judged.
Negative perceptions about people with diabetes are not only misplaced, but they are also harmful …
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Nurse researcher Barbara Cordell discusses her KevinMD article, “My husband’s rare drunken disease made me an international advocate.” She explores the complexities of auto-brewery syndrome, including diagnosis challenges, treatment options, and the …
Auto-brewery syndrome: Navigating diagnosis and advocacy [PODCAST]
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Internal medicine physician Scott Selinger discusses his KevinMD article, “The testosterone surge: Are men chasing solutions or creating new risks?“, delving into the rise of testosterone therapy, its trends, and associated risks. …
Understanding the testosterone surge: risks, trends, and solutions in men’s health [PODCAST]
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 …
Improving type 1 diabetes screening awareness among women is critical. Here’s why.
The hidden health crisis
Low testosterone (low T) is one of the most underdiagnosed and misunderstood health conditions facing men today. Studies show that nearly 40 percent of men over age 45 and 50 percent of men over 80 have low testosterone levels. However, what’s more troubling is that only 20 percent of these men are ever diagnosed or treated.
The symptoms are often subtle but profound, affecting physical health, mental well-being, …
As endocrinologists, we spend our days balancing hormones and fine-tuning metabolism, but when it comes to our own continuing medical education (CME) conferences, it seems our ability to maintain equilibrium goes out the window. We advocate for healthy living, yet our CME events are a hormonal disaster, like a cortisol spike right after a sugar crash.
Picture the scene: you roll out of bed before the sun, which is already a …
Why endocrinologists need to rethink CME: the secret to a healthier conference
“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 …
Why we need to stop blaming people for their diabetes
As an endocrinologist, internal medicine physician, and public health leader, I have witnessed firsthand the health disparities that affect Latino communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has only magnified these issues, especially with chronic diseases, emphasizing the pressing need for culturally competent health care to address these inequities.
In Arizona and across the nation, my efforts have been dedicated to educating and protecting our communities through media outreach, training community health workers, and …
Bridging the health gap: Empowering Latino communities for a healthier future
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. …
A lesson in generosity: How one woman helped a stranger afford insulin
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 …
It is time to change the conversation and eliminate the stigma attached to diabetes
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. …
The final three minutes of my hour-long elliptical workout were not easy. Pain spread across my stomach, causing me to row in a half-sitting motion, and my chest vacillated between violent coughs and the sorts of deep breaths people take when they think they’ve seen a ghost. Perspiration fell from my shirtless torso to the garage floor. The amount of sweat was not the kind my body produces from exercise. …
Beyond the workout: the hidden struggle of diabetic gastroparesis
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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.
Beyond the headlines: the truth about weight loss drugs [PODCAST]
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. …
High-deductible health plans: a barrier to care for chronic conditions
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, …
Will GLP-1s allow our society to eschew its responsibility to create a healthy environment?
Twenty years ago, the headlines were grim. It was common for studies to warn: “Rising childhood obesity will decrease life expectancy.” In large part, those predictions came true. The rise in obesity – both in children and adults – has correlated to a catastrophic rise in chronic disease that continues to affect life expectancy, cost of care, and quality of life.
But take a look at the health news headlines now, …
What we have to gain from weight loss drugs
I retired early from the profession I loved because the devolution of the health care system had made it impossible for me to care for my patients in a manner that met my standards. It also left me with a wound of “moral injury” which makes me leery of re-engaging with our health care system.
My early career
My first post-training job (1989) as a physician was in a BCBS clinic. After …
A retired physician’s battle with moral injury
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