A recent in-depth study looking at regional differences in childhood obesity rates found higher average body mass index (BMI) z-scores in the Midwest and lower average z-scores in the South and West, compared with the Northeast. The study, “Regional and sociodemographic differences in average BMI among U.S. children in the ECHO program,” looked at a…
Already in the top 20, Norton Children’s Hospital has risen higher still in the U.S. News & World Report rankings for pediatric endocrinology and diabetes services, from No. 18 to No. 16 nationally. The ranking brings prestige and recognition, of course, but it is the ranking’s meaning that is so important to our patients and…
Children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes have up to three times the risk of developing anxiety or depression and are at higher risk of suicidal ideation and eating disorders. Having anxiety and depression — and also having diabetes — can impact their lives significantly. Addressing the mental health of children and adolescents is integral…
Clinicians managing a child or adolescent with Type 1 diabetes often have very little accurate information about the patient’s physical activity, but a new study shows activity monitors like wearable fitness trackers provide a clear picture to help balance activity with nutrition or insulin needs. “Patients often overestimate their amount of physical activity. This study demonstrated…
Cadmium, a natural element used for rechargeable batteries and other industrial applications, can induce a novel type of testicular cell death in mice after low-dose exposure, according to a groundbreaking study. Cadmium is known to bioaccumulate and is linked to many health disorders, including male infertility. The study discovered low-dose cadmium exposure induces damage in…
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a clinically heterogeneous, heritable disorder characterized by increased bone fragility with a predisposition to fractures, low bone mass, bone deformities and short stature. It affects an estimate 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 20,000 live births. “There are highly variable presentations and a spectrum of severity that are present in osteogenesis…
The clinical team of 30, including nine board-certified pediatric endocrinologists and seven nurse practitioners, receives approximately 4,000 hospital and outpatient visits each year. More than 1,400 patients with diabetes seek the expertise of Norton Children’s Endocrinology each year. Patients include children up to age 21 with general endocrine conditions and adults up to age 26…
The Christensen Family Diabetes Sports & Activity Program is the only program of its kind nationally focused on helping active children and young adults manage diabetes on and off the playing field. Activity is one of the big variables during the day causing fluctuations in blood glucose levels, and everyone is different. You can’t put…
An artificial pancreas is the Holy Grail of diabetes technology. We are not there yet, but new technology is moving us closer by managing insulin more precisely than ever before — and changing the trajectory of patients’ lives in the process. A continuous glucose monitor (CGM), sometimes called a continuous blood glucose monitor, actually measures…
When a child is referred for short stature, pediatric endocrinologist Catalina Cabrera Salcedo, M.D., said providers first need to ask: Is the patient really short? Dr. Cabrera Salcedo, an endocrinologist with Norton Children’s Endocrinology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, presented recently on “The Role of Genetic Testing in the Evaluation of Short Stature”…
New research into screening adolescents with diabetes for depression and anxiety found the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety (PHQ-4) screening tool can identify adolescents who would benefit from further evaluation by a behavioral health provider. The study’s authors included Sara E. Watson, M.D.; Vicki L. Montgomery, M.D.; and Kupper A. Wintergerst, M.D. Adolescents…
Kupper A. Wintergerst, M.D., has overseen the transformation of the endocrinology and diabetes program at Norton Children’s Hospital into one of the best in the country. U.S. News & World Report recognized the hospital recently as one of the top 20 nationally for endocrinology and diabetes care. “We could never have achieved these goals without…