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Donna Pacheco

The Return of C-Peptide: Why This Old Biomarker Is Finding New Clinical Uses

Healthcare professional reviewing C-peptide test results with a pancreatic model, blood sample, and glucose monitoring equipment representing beta-cell function assessment in diabetes care.

For many years, C-peptide testing was viewed as a simple tool to distinguish type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes. However, the story has changed. As researchers gain a better understanding of pancreatic beta-cell function, C-peptide testing in diabetes has become much more valuable than a diagnostic aid alone. Today, …

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When Cardiology Meets Endocrinology: Why Diabetes Care Is Becoming a Team Sport

Multidisciplinary healthcare team including a cardiologist and endocrinologist collaborating on diabetes management with cardiovascular risk assessment in a modern clinical setting.

Not long ago, diabetes management focused primarily on controlling blood glucose levels. Today, that approach has evolved dramatically as cardiologists and endocrinologists increasingly work together to reduce cardiovascular risk. Thanks to groundbreaking cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs), clinicians now understand that treating type 2 diabetes means protecting the heart, kidneys, and …

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Amylin Is Making a Comeback: Why This Forgotten Hormone Is Back in the Spotlight

Medical illustration showing amylin hormone activity alongside insulin therapy, highlighting next-generation amylin-based treatments for diabetes and obesity.

For years, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have dominated conversations about diabetes and obesity treatment. However, another hormone is quietly returning to the spotlight. Amylin diabetes therapy is making a comeback as researchers develop a new generation of drugs designed to improve blood glucose control and support weight management. Amylin …

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Beyond SGLT2 Inhibitors: Why Non-Steroidal MRAs Are Becoming the Third Pillar of Kidney Protection

Illustration of healthy kidneys with medication representing non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists alongside SGLT2 inhibitor therapy for diabetic kidney disease management.

For years, the treatment of diabetic kidney disease focused primarily on glycemic control and blood pressure management. More recently, SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists have transformed the landscape by reducing kidney disease progression and cardiovascular events. However, another therapeutic class is rapidly gaining recognition. Non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) …

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The Biotin Blind Spot: How Everyday Supplements Can Skew Critical Diabetes Lab Results

High-dose biotin supplement bottle beside diabetes testing supplies, laboratory blood sample, and thyroid and cardiac lab reports illustrating biotin interference with diagnostic testing.

Biotin supplements have become increasingly popular among people living with diabetes. Many individuals take them to support healthy hair and nails, while others use high-dose formulations in hopes of easing neuropathy symptoms. An often-overlooked concern is biotin interference with laboratory tests used in diabetes care. Although biotin itself does not …

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The Glucagon Paradox: Why Activating a “Blood Sugar Hormone” Can Improve Metabolic Health

Medical illustration showing GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors working together to improve metabolism, weight loss, liver health, and blood glucose control in triple agonist diabetes therapy.

For decades, glucagon has been viewed as insulin’s opposite. While insulin lowers blood glucose, glucagon raises it by signaling the liver to release stored sugar into the bloodstream. Because of this, glucagon has traditionally been considered a hormone to suppress in people living with type 2 diabetes. However, modern research …

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When Weight Loss Isn’t the Whole Story: Managing Binge Eating Disorder in Type 2 Diabetes

Healthcare professional counseling an adult with type 2 diabetes about binge eating disorder, with healthy foods, a glucose meter, and balanced meal planning on a table.

For many people living with binge eating disorder and type 2 diabetes, managing blood sugar isn’t just about counting carbohydrates or losing weight. Emotional eating, loss of control around food, and feelings of guilt can quietly interfere with diabetes care, even when someone is taking the right medications. Because of …

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Why Blood Sugar Changes Every Month: Using CGM to Manage Luteal Phase Insulin Resistance

Woman wearing a continuous glucose monitor reviewing glucose trends alongside a menstrual cycle tracker to manage luteal phase insulin resistance.

Many women with diabetes notice that blood sugar levels become harder to control during certain weeks of the month. Despite eating the same meals, taking the same insulin doses, and maintaining consistent activity levels, glucose readings may suddenly climb. This recurring pattern is often linked to luteal phase insulin resistance, …

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Can Sound Waves Treat Diabetes? The Emerging Science of Hepatic Neuromodulation

Illustration of focused ultrasound targeting the liver to stimulate neural pathways involved in glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity for type 2 diabetes treatment.

For decades, diabetes treatment has centered on medications, insulin therapy, lifestyle changes, and increasingly sophisticated medical devices. But what if a completely different approach could help regulate blood sugar without adding another drug? That intriguing question is driving research into hepatic neuromodulation for diabetes, a promising field that uses focused …

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The End of Sliding-Scale Insulin? How Predictive AI Is Transforming Inpatient Diabetes Care

Hospital clinician using an AI-powered glucose prediction dashboard to optimize inpatient insulin dosing and improve diabetes management.

Hospital glucose management has long relied on reactive treatment strategies, especially sliding-scale insulin protocols that respond to blood glucose after it has already risen. While this approach remains common, healthcare systems are increasingly exploring AI solutions for inpatient diabetes care that predict glucose changes before they become dangerous. Instead of …

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