Medical and surgical management of obesity and diabetes: what's new?

We conducted a narrative review of the medical and surgical management of people with obesity and diabetes. Results of this review showed that a 5-10% loss in body weight can be achieved with a change in lifestyle, diet and behaviour and with approved pharmacological therapies in people with obesity and diabetes. New targeted therapies are now available for patients with previously untreatable genetic causes of obesity. Compared to medical treatment, metabolic and bariatric surgery is associated with significantly higher rates of remission from type 2 diabetes and lower rates of incident macrovascular and microvascular complications and mortality. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the American Diabetes Association endorse metabolic and bariatric surgery in obese adults with type 2 diabetes and there may also be a role for this in obese individuals with type 1 diabetes. The paediatric committee of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery have recommended metabolic and bariatric surgery in obese adolescents with type 2 diabetes. Earlier and more aggressive treatment with metabolic and bariatric surgery in obese or overweight people with diabetes can improve morbidity and mortality.

Noncompliance with medical treatment: pseudomalabsorption of levothyroxine.

Euthyroidism could not be achieved in a 41-year-old woman with primary hypothyroidism despite escalating doses of oral levothyroxine as high as 600 microg and 100 microg of triiodothyronine daily. Clinical and biochemical evidence of hypothyroidism persisted even with the administration of intramuscular levothyroxine. There was no history compatible with drug-induced malabsorption of levothyroxine. Evaluation of serum showed no thyroid hormone autoantibodies. After hospitalization, intravenous levothyroxine therapy returned thyroid hormone to normal concentrations. Moreover, thyroid hormone loading tests revealed normal oral absorption of both levothyroxine and triiodothyronine. Noncompliance with medical treatment leading to pseudomalabsorption of levothyroxine should be considered in patients who have persistent hypothyroidism with high-dose replacement therapy.

Adrenal insufficiency in HIV infection: a review and recommendations.

Adrenal insufficiency is known to be a complication of HIV infection, although estimates of its prevalence and severity vary. Adrenal insufficiency is the most serious endocrine complication that occurs in persons with HIV infection. Patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are considered to be at high risk for primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency. We describe 3 patients with AIDS who had clinical features suggestive of adrenal insufficiency, but their corticotropin (ACTH) stimulation tests were normal. Repeat testing confirmed the diagnosis in one patient, and further testing with the overnight metyrapone test revealed evidence of secondary adrenal insufficiency in the other patients. Persistent clinical improvement was evident on subsequent glucocorticoid therapy. A normal response to the ACTH stimulation test can be dangerously misleading. Patients with AIDS and suspected adrenal insufficiency who have normal screening by the ACTH stimulation test should undergo further testing for secondary adrenal disease.