all things to do with diabetes obesity and metabolism
30th June 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo
Just in case you are not aware, there will be a tsunami of patients with metabolic dysfunction associate fatty liver disease (MAFLD) or metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) coming to you over the next few years. Part of the reason is to do with the better recognition of the condition and we are now detecting them more with biomarkers, imaging and a high index of suspicion.…
30th June 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo
We advocate applying protective sunscreens for little babies onwards because most of the sun damage starts from young and often, we fight a losing battle trying to rescue severe sun damaged skin in later life. It wouldn’t be any different in dyslipidaemia in children and adults. When you think about it, it really doesn’t matter what age you are.…
10th June 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo
There will always be a certain degree of fat free mass (i.e. muscle) loss with any weight loss. While the makers of the GLP1/GIP agonists will tell you that overall, there is more fat loss than muscle loss, it is still a concern for the long term health of patients who lose muscles which may not be restored.…
31st May 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo
Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors and SGLT2 inhibitors have been the cornerstone treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for many years now. They have been shown to protect kidneys and at the same time reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Finerenone was recently shown to do the same. These three agents are now the guideline-directed three pillars in the treatment of CKD.…
11th May 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo
I recall reading somewhere that increasing fish intake during pregnancy results in leaner offsprings. It all makes sense as we know that ω-3 fatty acid (ω-3 FA) is beneficial for adults (also read somewhere). It must be good for babies then. Is there data on those claims? Well, sort of. We shall look into them.…
27th April 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo
We know that suboptimal HbA1c increases the risk of micro and macrovascular complications in people with diabetes. We also know that suboptimal HbA1c increases infection risks in these people. There is increasing evidence that glucose variability is a potent predictor of complications. There are two ways to look at glucose variability – day to day variation as seen on continuous glucose monitoring and variability in HbA1c measured over years.…
27th April 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo
PAD is associated with a high incidence of future lower-limb amputations, physical disability, cardiovascular outcomes, other serious health outcomes, reduced quality of life, and mortality (3–8). Some GPs are lucky to have tool that can easily perform ankle brachial index (ABI) as part of a cardiovascular assessment. It is a very simple tool that can detect peripheral arterial disease (PAD).…
27th April 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo
Metformin has microvascular (and perhaps, macrovascular) benefits in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). It crosses the placenta and as with all medications used in pregnancy, we always worry about its potential effects on the offspring in utero. We worry about the metabolic effects of reduced nutrients to the growing baby in there. Current recommendations (RACGP handbook) says that the pros and cons of metformin in pregnancy for women with diabetes (not GDM) are unclear (1).…
13th April 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo
We are all used to metformin being the first line glucose lowering agent when type 2 diabetes (T2D) is diagnosed. (Well, I know some you also use metformin before diabetes is diagnosed but that’s a different story). Glucose lowering efficacy of metformin is not that terrific as we now have much stronger glucose lowering agents available.…
31st March 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo
In case you have not noticed, there was some disquiet in the cardiovascular community this week on the potential harm intermittent fasting can cause. The headline presentation says “8-hour time-restricted eating linked to a 91% higher risk of cardiovascular death”. Well, any study regarding “diets” are always going to be sus.…
28th March 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo
We all know that high LDL-C is absolutely and adversely associated with cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. It’s been “proven” again and again in large clinical trials and meta-analyses after meta-analyses. Reducing lipids levels have also been shown to reduce cardiovascular (CV) events in secondary as well as in primary prevention. This is particularly the case in those with intermediate to high CV risks.…
28th March 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo
We all know that when type 2 diabetes (T2D) presents at a younger age, they tend to be more aggressive in its progression as well as in the complications it causes. The complications also emerge earlier as well more aggressive. There are more cardiovascular events, more renal events and now, increasingly recognised, more liver complications.…