The pandemic has really cause havoc to our CPD. The effect on our annual Diabetes Tech and Talk Conference is no different. We postponed the May meeting to October/November and it’s finally here. Register now for either face to face at The Rydges or listen to it online. …
Aortic aneurysm and fluoroquinolones don’t mix well – do they?
13th October 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
Aortic aneurysm (AA) and aortic dissection (AD) are potentially fatal conditions. Without treatment, ruptured AA/AD carries a mortality rate of up to 90%. Population-based studies estimated the annual incidence to be 2.4 to 14.8 per 100 000 persons for AA (1-4) and 3.8 to 8.8 per 100 000 persons for AD (3,5-7). Although the incidence varied across countries, the number has universally increased over time (1-5,7).…
Can lifestyle measures prevent GDM?
12th October 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
We know from various diabetes prevention programs that intensive lifestyle interventions can be successful in reducing progression to diabetes. As GDM is more common in women with higher BMI and in the many high- risk groups and it is logical to ask the question “can we prevent GDM in these women?” If we could reduce progression of patients who has prediabetes to diabetes, we should, in theory, reduce prevalence of GDM in women who are at high risk of GDM.…
Temporal arteritis – which features help with the diagnosis?
11th October 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
There are a few “rare” medical diagnoses that are stuck in our minds since medical school days. They may be rare but it’s important not to miss them. Temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis (GCA) is one of those not so common conditions. It is actually not that rare. It is the most frequent primary systemic vasculitis with an annual incidence rate of 15–25 per 100,000 in Caucasians ≥50 years of age and it primarily affects medium- and large-sized vessels (1,2). When do you suspect GCA?…
If your patient need interventional procedures, go to an expert
29th September 2020, Spectrum Medical Imaging
Do your patients need Interventional procedures performed?
Interventional Radiology provides patients with access to a vast array of treatment options that do not require surgery. This is a rapidly expanding speciality which grows with every incremental advance in medical imaging technology. Spectrum provides Interventional Radiology services across Sydney in both Private and Public settings.…
Hypoglycaemia in non-diabetics – is it a problem?
27th September 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
We know that hyperglycaemia is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. We also know that in patients with diabetes, hypoglycaemia is also associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. What about patients who don’t have diabetes and have low blood glucose (<4.0 mmol/L)? I am sure we all have patients who do not have diabetes but on screening blood tests, have BSL lower than 4.0 mmol/L.…
Nasal saline wash – can it wash away Covid-19?
24th September 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
Since Covid-19 pandemic started 6-7 months ago, there have been a deluge of reports coming out in the medical and lay press and sometimes it is hard to keep track of what is real and what is just logical. Because Covid-19 is primarily a respiratory pathogen, infection begins in the nasal and nasopharyngeal mucosa with high viral load especially at the beginning of the infection.…
GDM Screening – Can HbA1c replace OGTT during the pandemic?
14th September 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
We have many patients who have borderline high fasting glucose in their routine check-up. In non-pregnant adults, we have been able to use HbA1c as a generic screening test for type 2 diabetes (T2D) for some time. Unfortunately, neither non-diabetic fasting glucose readings nor HbA1c totally exclude the presence of diabetes. I am sure you have come across patients with non-diabetic fasting glucose and HbA1c but yet fail their oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).…
“Less glucocentric diabetes management” – what does that mean to you?
14th September 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
Over the last decade, there has been a push for a less glucocentric management of diabetes. For some, less glucocentric means accepting poorer glycaemic control in our patients with diabetes. It was meant to direct us to not be fixated on managing glucose control without looking at other aspects of the diabetes complications.…
GDM screening – who, when and how?
14th September 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
Tell me this is not, broadly, what you have in mind when you think about gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We know that hyperglycaemia and pregnancy does not mix well. GDM is not quite full-blown diabetes in pregnancy but is nonetheless, associated with risks for the mother and infant and with long-term metabolic consequences in both mother and child.…
Do you know this giant lurking in SWS?
27th August 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
I first met him in December 2014 just before he started work at Western Sydney University in 2015. For someone who has just arrived in south west Sydney, I was most impressed to see how well he grasped the problems we have with the quality of care in patients with diabetes in our area.…
Acne – are dietary factors relevant?
25th August 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
Moderately severe to severe acne can have significant psychological harm associated with low self-esteem, poor perception of one’s body, social isolation, and depressive symptoms. Patients often believe that consumption of various food contribute to their acne development and severity. Although chocolate, fatty foods, and milk are frequently thought to be responsible is there any evidence on the role of nutrition in acne?…