Few fields in medicine have dominated the public health discussion in the same manner as endocrinology and diabetes management has throughout 2023. Driven by historic revelations surrounding the benefit of incretin-based therapies and elevated further by technological breakthroughs like the iLet Bionic Pancreas.

To celebrate the end of this historic period for the field, our December month in review encapsulates the top news in the field from the final month of 2023. Our list of the most popular content from the past month includes the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Standards of Care—2024, label updates expanding administration options for levothyroxine sodium oral solution, a feature from our This Year in Medicine series, and more!

Want to know more about the year in endocrinology? Check out Diabetes Dialogue: 2023 Top Episodes Recap, which details the topics from our top 10 most-watched episodes of the past year.

Top Stories in Endocrinology from December 2023

Diabetes Dialogue: Key Updates in ADA Standards of Care—2024

The ADA Standards of Care serve as a roadmap for clinicians and diabetes educators to understand and apply the latest updates in the management of diabetes. Unlike guidelines and recommendation statements from other major professional medical organizations, the ADA Standards of Care have undergone annual updates capturing the latest developments in diabetes management dating back to 1989.

In this episode of Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives, hosts discuss what they consider the most significant or relevant updates in the ADA’s Standards of Care in Diabetes—2024.

FDA Approves New Label Changes for Tirosint-SOL, Expanding Administration Options

On December 04, 2023, IBSA Pharma announced the US Food and Drug Administration had approved a pair of label changes for levothyroxine sodium oral solution (Tirosint-SOL) aimed at offering patients with hypothyroidism with more flexible administration options. These changes, which were based on the results of 2 clinical trials, allow levothyroxine sodium oral solution to be administered with proton pump inhibitors and 15 minutes before eating breakfast.

Electronic 'Nudges' to Improve Influenza Vaccine Uptake May Be Less Effective in Patients with Diabetes

An exploratory subgroup analysis of the landmark NUDGE-FLU offered new insight into the effects of electronically delivered nudges on influenza vaccination uptake among older adults according to diabetes status. Results of the study, which included 123,974 individuals among its 964,870-person patient population, suggest use of electronic letters designed to boost influenza vaccination may have a greater benefit in people without diabetes than those with diabetes.

Study Finds Baricitinib Could Delay Progression of Type 1 Diabetes

At a time when major organizations are pushing for increased screening efforts in type 1 diabetes, new data from an antirheumatic drug purports it may be useful in delaying the progression of the autoimmune disease. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the JDRF International-funded BANDIT trial concluded daily treatment with baricitinib over 48 weeks reduced need for insulin and appeared to preserve β-cell function among adults with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes.

Semaglutide: The Drug of Today and a Steppingstone to Tomorrow

A feature from our This Year in Medicine series, this article examines the news and events that have defined 2023 for the agent of the year: semaglutide. In the feature, we spotlight perspective on the public’s desire for the agent, new trial data, and the future of incretin therapies.