In the News


Short-term insulin followed by oral drugs provided glucose control in new type 2 diabetes

Patients with a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and an HbA1c level of 8.5% or greater significantly lowered their HbA1c levels if they took insulin for two to three weeks before switching to linagliptin, metformin, or both, a randomized trial in China found.

Dexamethasone not associated with survival benefit in inpatients with COVID-19, diabetes

Patients with diabetes and severe COVID-19 who were treated with dexamethasone had slower time to clinical recovery than propensity-matched patients who didn't get dexamethasone, and steroid treatment did not improve mortality, a retrospective study found.

Review calls for increased measurement, treatment of diabetes distress

An analysis of six studies found that an average of 78.3% of people with diabetes had at least some clinically relevant diabetes distress-related problems and that a commonly used scale does not capture most patients with distress.

MKSAP quiz: Perioperative glucose control

This month's quiz asks readers to choose management for a 59-year-old man undergoing elective hip arthroplasty who has a recent hemoglobin A1c of 7.9% and a blood glucose concentration of 230 mg/dL (12.8 mmol/L) three hours before surgery.

Spotlight on younger-onset diabetes

One recent study found significantly elevated mortality risk in patients diagnosed with diabetes before age 40 years, while another reported high rates of diabetes remission among adolescents who underwent bariatric surgery. The NIH announced a large new study of youth-onset diabetes.

In HF, T2D, CKD, or atherosclerotic CVD, SGLT-2 inhibitors reduce HF hospitalizations and CV mortality

Recent research on newer classes of diabetes drugs indicates that dysglycemia may not be a prerequisite to benefit from their cardiovascular and renal benefits, an ACP Journal Club commentary said.

In T2D, SGLT-2 inhibitor effects on CV and kidney outcomes were consistent regardless of GLP-1 receptor agonist use

The number of patients who received combination therapy with an SGLT-2 inhibitor and a GLP-1 receptor agonist in a recent review was too small to guide practice, but it's likely that more patients will soon be on this regimen, an ACP Journal Club commentary said.

New consensus guidance document advises on use of CGM in the hospital

A group of experts reviewed the potential benefits and barriers to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in the hospital, as well as summarizing existing guidance and discussing relevant staff training, clinical workflow, and hospital policies.

Recent FDA announcements deal with insulin pumps

The agency announced a recall of a series of Medtronic insulin pumps and offered information about preventing damage to pumps and monitors during CT scans and X-rays.