Activity

Presenter at the 2019 Diabetes Symposium

I wish to thank Dr. Mihail “Misha” Zilbermint and Dr. Shabina R. Ahmed for inviting me to present at the 2019 Diabetes Symposium of Suburban Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine. The symposium was a meaningful educational activity discussing the latest progress in the field of clinical diabetology. Over 100 primary care providers attended the seminar.

The topic of my presentation was “Modern lipid approach in patients with diabetes.” Experts discussed in detail various important subjects, such as advanced hospital management of diabetes, recent clinical research on low carbohydrate diet, kidney protection by SGLT-2 inhibitors, diabetes devices, and cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes.

GT

Obesity Medicine

Harvard Medical School offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn cutting-edge developments in the field of research and clinical obesity. Numerous subjects were discussed in detail. Topics ranged from molecular biology, genetics, and hormonal feedbacks to clinical, neuropsychological, and surgical interventions to nutritional, epidemiological, and public health.

GT

Certified Lipidologist

I am pleased to announce that, as of October 2018, I am a certified clinical lipidologist, accredited by the American Board of Clinical Lipidology (ABCL). The role of the lipidologist is to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with elevated cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Currently, there are approximately 700 certified lipidologists in the U.S.

Dyslipidemia is a major public health concern. Elevated cholesterol levels, particularly what’s called the “bad” cholesterol (LDLc) or non-HDL cholesterol are major risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease leading to heart attack and stroke. World Health Organization estimates that globally, 45% of people have elevated total cholesterol.

Dyslipidemia could be monogenic, polygenic or due to comorbidities such as metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, nephrotic syndrome, weight gain, lack of exercise, or use of other medications.

According to ABCL, I am 1 of 3 physicians in the U.S. who is certified in all three specialties; endocrinology/diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. This allows me to provide comprehensive and detailed care to endocrine patients, particularly those with diabetes.

GT

Merit-based payment for blood pressure care

I am happy to contribute to the editorial by Lisa Eramo published in Medical Economics, January 2018. The article is important as it raises physician awareness of Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) under which hypertension management falls. MIPS, part of 2015 MACRA, will go into effect in 2019.

GT

Recombinant PTH for Chronic Primary Hypoparathyroidism

Primary hypoparathyroidism (PHPT) is a rare endocrine condition defined by hypocalcemia and deficient parathyroid hormone (PTH). It is primarily managed with high dose oral calcium and vitamin D supplementation instead of targeting the root cause of deficient PTH.

Conventional treatment is difficult to manage and often inadequate at controlling symptoms and preventing complications. RhPTH (1-84) is a recombinant form of PTH that acts as a direct substitute to the native hormone. It is a novel therapy that allows significant dose reductions in calcium and vitamin D supplementation, while achieving improved serum calcium, phosphate and calcium-phosphate product levels.

These biochemical advantages over the conventional therapy can translate to significant clinical benefits: reduced adverse events and improved quality of life. Our patient experienced just that with PTH replacement therapy. We propose a simple and practical protocol of how to initiate and titrate PHPT treatment. We emphasize the need for RhPTH(1-84) in all patients with resistant or refractory hypoparathyroidism.

EZ,  IB,  GT

Metformin and CVD prevention

Recent literature suggests that early metformin use could help reduce CVD progression and outcomes in patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes beyond glycemic control. It is important to discuss this information with individuals who are in the prediabetic or early diabetic stages of the disease, A1c 5.7-7.0%. Benefits should be weighed against metformin adverse effects, polypharmacy, life expectancy and comorbidities, particularly in the setting of cardiac, renal or hepatic pathology. Individualized patient discussion and clinical decision would be pivotal to proper medical care.

GT

Clinical Hypertension Specialist

I am pleased to announce that, as of June 2016, I am a certified hypertension specialist, accredited by the American Society of Hypertension. Currently, there are about 1600 certified specialists in the U.S. and Canada.

Hypertension is a major public health concern. About 30% of Americans have elevated blood pressure. It is a main contributor to poor cardiovascular outcomes, leading to heart failure, myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, vascular dementia and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension is commonly seen in various endocrinological conditions such as diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, adrenal, thyroid, parathyroid anomalies.

GT

Medications that Promote Weight Loss in Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is prevalent and a common cause of other conditions such as kidney failure (nephropathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), eye disease (retinopathy), bone infection (osteomyelitis) and heart illness (coronary artery disease). It is primarily due to excessive body weight. So it is natural to look for medications that can help not only with glucose control but also targeting the root problem, obesity.

In the diabetes world, there are two such drug classes, ‘GLP-1 agonists’ and ‘SGLT-2 inhibitors’. Both can assist patients in losing significant body weight. These medications could be expensive, but if covered by health insurance, would be viable options for type 2 diabetes. Of course, side effects and contraindications need to be discussed with the physician.

GT