touchREVIEWS in Endocrinology 18.1

Welcome to the latest edition of touchREVIEWS in Endocrinology. The articles in this issue present authoritative, up-to-date information on a wide range of topics, reflecting the scope of the broadening discipline of endocrinology. We begin with four articles on the subject of diabetes. In the first, Pappachan et al. present a systematic review of studies evaluating […]

Identifying the type of diabetes correctly can be difficult, especially in adults, because of the heterogeneity in the clinical presentation. However, it is important to accurately diagnose the type of diabetes for its clinical, prognostic, therapeutic and psychosocial implications. The clinical characteristics, diagnostic work-up, therapies and complications of each form of diabetes are different, and […]

Nutrient-stimulated gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) (known as either gastric inhibitory polypeptide or glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) or glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), are secreted by K and L cells, respectively, in the upper segment of the small intestine and throughout the intestine. For the past 10 years, GLP-1 receptor agonists, which are mimetic of incretins, have been used […]

For people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), glycaemic control has been monitored by two key measurements: laboratory-tested glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level and the individuals’ self-monitored blood glucose (SMBG) fingerprick testing.1,2 Both of these measurements have significant limitations. HbA1c provides a surrogate assessment of the average glucose levels of the […]

Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems play an important role in the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) by helping users achieve the recommended glucose targets while reducing the episodes of hypoglycemia.1 First-generation AID systems, including MiniMed™ 630G (Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) and Basal-IQ (Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) featured prespecified glucose boundaries at which to […]

Obesity – a chronic, relapsing, progressive disease that is defined by a body mass index (BMI) of ≥27.5 kg/m2 in Asian populations and ≥30.0 kg/m2 in all other populations – is an epidemic that has spread across the world.1 Recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that 59% of adults and almost one in three children […]

Obesity is a growing problem worldwide with extensive health and economic consequences, rendering interventions that encourage weight loss of great interest. Obesity is usually defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or above, or 27.5 kg/m2 or above in Asian populations. Based on the health survey for England 2019, 28% of adults in England […]

Short stature affects 2.5% of children and is one of the most common reasons for consulting a growth specialist during childhood.1 Normal height is a polygenic trait and derives from the interaction of several factors. It is known that height is influenced by hormonal, nutritional and psychosocial variables, and during recent years it has been increasingly […]

On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was notified of several cases of pneumonia of unknown aetiology in Wuhan, China. After a relatively short period, officials confirmed the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reported outside of China, in Thailand, on 13 January 2020.1 From the start of the pandemic to 11 November […]

The pandemic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a growing concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries, which contribute to nearly 75% of the disease burden.1 Indian patients with T2D constitute 1 in 6 adults with T2D globally, with marked differences in prevalence across the states.2,3 The younger age of onset and faster progression from prediabetes […]

In physiological conditions, the pituitary gland contributes to proper body functions and homeostasis. The assumed circadian rhythm of anterior pituitary hormones seems to be an important part of the hormonal balance. Cortisol release triggered by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) forms the main part of the body’s ‘stress response’, which is crucial for a patient’s reaction to […]