Endocrinology
- Treating the thyroid: Trust the feedback loop
Studies show that, when testing to detect or monitor thyroid dysfunction, we order more free T3 and T4 levels than are necessary. We apparently should trust the thyroid-stimulating hormone feedback loop more than we do.
- Thyroid obstacle course: Many challenges from a single gland
The patient presented to his primary care clinician for new irritability, anxiety, and insomnia. Laboratory testing revealed a low thyroid-stimulating hormone level.
- Common electrolyte imbalance, uncommon cause
A 47-year-old woman presented with 10 days of weakness, wide purple striae on the abdomen, and hyperpigmentation on the knuckles.
- Classic diabetic ketoacidosis and the euglycemic variant: Something old, something new
The authors review differences in the pathophysiology and management of classic diabetic ketoacidosis and the euglycemic variant, the latter of which has become more common with the increasing use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors.
- How do I manage my patients with thyrotoxicosis until they see the endocrinologist?
Primary care physicians can start beta-blockers promptly for symptomatic relief, obtain radioactive iodine uptake and scan, and start methimazole if high uptake is noted.
- Effective but inaccessible antiobesity medications: A call for sharing responsibility for improving access to evidence-based care
The potentially transformative benefits of second-generation obesity medications have yet to be realized because many patients lack access to these medications.
- Continuous glucose monitoring: High-tech devices still need some low-tech backup
High-end devices that monitor patients’ physiology offer many benefits, but device malfunctions and disruptions are not rare events.