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Foreword – US Endocrinology, 2013;9(1):5

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Published Online: Jun 10th 2013 US Endocrinology, 2013;9(1):5
Authors: Jeffrey Mechanick
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In recent decades, the incidence of obesity and Type 2 diabetes (T2d) has risen to epidemic proportions, and future projections suggest an immense challenge for healthcare systems. These two significant health concerns form the focus of this issue of US Endocrinology. Current therapeutic approaches to T2d still face innumerable problems, including continued unhealthy lifestyles, decreased medication adherence, risks for hypoglycemia, as well as potential adverse cardiovascular and neoplastic risks impeding governmental approval processes.

In recent decades, the incidence of obesity and Type 2 diabetes (T2d) has risen to epidemic proportions, and future projections suggest an immense challenge for healthcare systems. These two significant health concerns form the focus of this issue of US Endocrinology. Current therapeutic approaches to T2d still face innumerable problems, including continued unhealthy lifestyles, decreased medication adherence, risks for hypoglycemia, as well as potential adverse cardiovascular and neoplastic risks impeding governmental approval processes. current advances in insulin therapy address many of these challenges and enrich our antidiabetes armamentarium, which is the focus of our first article. The importance of non-medical interventions and technologies in reducing the risk for diabetes and obesity is also addressed in this issue. Monitoring of blood glucose is central to the management of diabetes and we discuss the implications of new accuracy standards in self-monitoring. We explore the important concept and supporting evidence regarding energy balance in combating obesity, in addition to the role of physical activity and obesity in the prevention and management of T2d. This issue also discusses EPODE, an intervention for preventing childhood obesity, which has been adopted in several countries worldwide. Craig A. Johnston, Phd, Brian Stevens, BSc and John P Foreyt, Phd, review the role of dietary sweeteners in T2d. it has been suggested that consumption of fructose is fueling the diabetes epidemic, but there is no conclusive evidence that fructose is harmful and it may even have advantages for glycemic control, especially at small doses. Low-calorie sweeteners also play a major role in T2d prevention and management.

Vitamin D is an important metabolic regulator and the extra-osseous roles of vitamin D have received great attention recently and worldwide. This issue features articles on the links between vitamin D deficiency and obesity, particularly in pregnancy, and explores evidence for the role of vitamin D in preventing and treating cancer. Another article reviews the drug ezetimibe, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, which offers the potential for effective combination therapy with statins in patients with metabolic diseases. Two articles focus on acromegaly and the implications of the introduction of somatostatin analogs. Finally, we review new therapeutic options in growth hormone deficiency. The broad scope of articles presented herein reflects resurgence in endocrine translational research in response to a growing threat of metabolic disease; this is a global problem attracting attention from the United Nations and other international organizations.

US Endocrinology would like to take this opportunity to thank all contributors to this edition, from organizations to individuals. A special thanks goes to our Editorial Board for their continuing support and guidance. In particular, we would like to thank the expert authors, who gave their precious time and effort to produce an insightful selection of articles. The expert discussions and the variety of topics covered ensure there is something of interest for every reader and we hope you find this edition useful and thought provoking.

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