December 26, 2020 : Issue #1092

The Best of 2020, Part 1

In this special year-end issue, we count down our most popular articles from the first half of 2020.

As we come to the last 2 newsletters of the year, it is time for our annual look back at the best of 2020. Who would have thought when we started the year that a new virus would kill over 300,000 Americans, drive the economy to new lows and cause all of us to change how we live and even serve our patients? In April we had a great article on the use of metformin to treat COVID-19, and the coronavirus was often in our newsletter as we battled to keep ourselves and our patients healthy.

While you are enjoying holiday leftovers, take a few minutes to check out the most popular articles of the first half of 2020.

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We can make a difference!

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Dave Joffe

Editor-in-chief

Metformin is one of the oldest antihyperglycemic drugs still in practice, but recent research confirms its benefits.

Coronary atherosclerotic plaques can be identified early, but specific risk factors are not fully understood. 

By Sheri Colberg, PhD

Just in time for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) social distancing and closures of gyms and fitness centers in many areas, here’s a revisit of many important core exercises you can do at home to keep yourself strong and healthy, with an illustrated PDF you can print out.

Two new studies suggest that dozens of drugs already approved for use in the United States may prove effective against the coronavirus. Repurposing these FDA-approved drugs could be a fast way to get treatment to patients. 

Blood glucose monitors – a breakthrough that followed urine tests and lasted over 50 years – may soon go into the museums, showing how patients with diabetes used to check their blood sugars.  

A new study shows that metformin may have a previously unknown mechanism of action that could lead to new and improved diabetes medications.