Top in endocrinology: Semaglutide scams; FDA OKs Medtronic’s disposable CGM

Researchers purchased prefilled semaglutide pens from six online vendors, of which three were nondelivery scams, according to findings from a research letter published in JAMA Network Open.

The pens that did arrive had low purity levels and exceeded the labeled amount.

“For buying online, patients can self-prescribe when not necessary or when possibly contraindicated, they can be exposed to low-quality product, they can self-administer a product with the wrong or no instructions, and this may happen completely outside a physician-patient relationship needed for effective use of GLP-1s,” Tim K. Mackey, MAS, PhD, professor in the global health program at University of California, San Diego, told Healio.

It was the top story in endocrinology last week.

In another top story, the FDA approved the Simplera continuous glucose monitor (Medtronic) for people with diabetes. The next-generation CGM is half the size of Medtronic’s earlier devices, requires a one-hand, two-step insertion process without needing additional tape and is the company’s first disposable CGM.

Read these and more top stories in endocrinology below:

Scams, low-quality products a risk when ordering semaglutide from online pharmacies

Quality testing of three counterfeit semaglutide products found low purity and more measured semaglutide than what was on the label, according to result from a recently published investigation.. Read more.

FDA approves next-generation CGM with two-step insertion process

FDA approved Medtronic’s next-generation continuous glucose monitor for people with diabetes, according to a company press release. Read more.

Large differences observed among insulin algorithms at US academic hospitals

Algorithms for initiating insulin among noncritically ill adults varied widely across 20 U.S. academic hospitals, according to a brief report published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. Read more.

Poor physical function may lead to higher fracture risk for women with type 2 diabetes

Worse physical function may be the factor contributing to an increased fracture risk for women aged 75 to 80 years with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. Read more.

Adults maintain drops in body weight, HbA1c at 1 year after duodenal mucosal resurfacing

Adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes had reductions in body weight and HbA1c 1 year after undergoing an endoscopic procedure that resurfaces the duodenum lining, according to top-line results from a real-world registry study. Read more.