Author: Emma Yasinski

Emma Yasinski

I am a freelance science and medical journalist, fascinated by how the scientific process leads to incredible discoveries, but also can lead to publication bias leaning toward positive findings and minimizing negatives. With a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Lafayette College and a Master’s in Science and Medical Journalism from Boston University, I’ve written about clinical trial transparency, organ donation, and basic molecular biology for publications like The Scientist, The Atlantic, Undark.org, Kaiser Health News, and more. At MedShadow, I research and write about the sometimes unexpected ways that medicines can affect us, and what we can do if and when it does.

Diabetes is one of the biggest challenges of our generation, and I’m at heightened risk for developing it. As some MedShadow readers might already know, I am one of the many women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS.) That condition puts me at a substantially higher risk than the average woman for developing diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4.8% of people between the ages of 18 and 40 (with or without PCOS), and 18.9% of those aged 45 to 64, in the U.S. have diabetes. But by the time they’re 40 years old, more than…

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At MedShadow, we regularly interview patients about their experiences with medications. Time and time again, we have patients tell us that shortly after starting a new regimen, they gained weight. They don’t always know whether the drug directly caused their weight gain, but the timing is often suspect. Weight gain around your midsection is often associated with something called “insulin resistance,” a condition that researchers are finding more and more to be a side effect of drugs. Take Masonia Traylor, for example, who told MedShadow she gained 40 pounds after she switched to a new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) medication.…

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Wegovy (semaglutide), a popular diabetes drug, has gotten a lot more popular over the last 18 months. In June 2021, it was approved for a new indication—weight loss for patients with obesity, even if they didn’t have diabetes. While it’s only indicated for those with obesity, celebrities with seemingly healthy weights have claimed to be giving themselves the at-home injections in hopes of fitting into particularly form-fitting outfits for special events. If you Google “wegovy” even once, you’ll likely start seeing ads on social media for telehealth companies that help manage weight, and of course, have doctors ready to prescribe…

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When Pat (now 71) was in her 40s, her vaginal dryness became so severe that the vaginal tissue would flare with even a gentle wipe. She’d been exposed to a drug called DES (diethylstilbestrol) when she was in utero, which caused myriad health issues as she grew up, and was likely behind the dryness. For her, coconut oil made a huge difference. “If only I had known I was not alone with this personal issue,” she says. Vaginal dryness is likely more common than you think. It can affect women of any age, but is especially prevalent among those who…

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Madeline Shonka told MedShadow it took her years to get an accurate lupus diagnosis. Even then, she had to go through trial and error with many different combinations of medications for treatment, all the while trying to decipher the best lifestyle changes to manage her condition. For example, she eventually discovered that making time for light exercise had a huge positive impact on her quality of life. Jill Dehlin, an RN who suffers from migraines, told MedShadow that tracking her symptoms helped immensely. “I recommend to everyone that I speak with to keep a journal or diary and keep track…

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✅ This article was reviewed and approved by Terry Graedon, member of our MedShadow Medical Advisory Board. Diabetes Drugs When Ron Carlson died on his motorcycle at 66, it wasn’t a slippery road or a distracted driver that led to his demise. It was hypoglycemia, according to the medical examiner who reviewed his death. Carlson, a diabetic, had been prescribed medication to lower his blood sugar, a job the drugs did too well. In Carlson’s case, it led to hypoglycemia that caused him to stumble, clutch the bike’s throttle for balance and then be flung across a restaurant parking lot.…

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A Petition Was Filed For a Black Box Warning for SGLT-2 Inhibitors A petition was filed on June 24 that called for a black box warning for SGLT-2 inhibitors that are being prescribed for off-label used. The diabetes drug metformin is having a moment, as it may help stop COVID-19 deaths. And a cavalier and rebellious attitude in younger folks who think that they’re safe from COVID-19 may be the reason infection rates are surging in that demographic. The Dangers of a Common Diabetes Drug A citizen’s petition by Public Citizen was filed to the FDA on Wednesday, June 24,…

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Your doctor has just prescribed you a diabetes medication. Here’s how they work to reduce blood glucose levels and what to be aware of while taking them. At a recent visit to the doctor’s office, I had blood drawn for a number of lab tests, including ones to detect diabetes. If you’re over 45 — like I am — you’ll probably be tested for diabetes at some point in time as well. Our risk factors for adult onset diabetes increase as we age. These risks include weight gain, poor eating habits, less active lifestyle and a family history of diabetes.…

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If you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, losing weight, exercising and changes in diet could be enough to keep your blood sugar in check. A combination of diet and exercise has the ability to reverse diabetes in many diabetics and pre-diabetics who are not insulin dependent — meaning if your pancreas is still producing any insulin. Since most diabetic medicines are taken for the rest of your life, it makes sense to delay taking them as long as healthfully possible. All medicines have side effects that might impair your life and taking drugs regularly adds a strain on your…

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In the latest study, researchers at McGill University in Montreal found that Metformin, a commonly used drug to treat type-2 diabetes, increases the risk of low thyroid-stimulating hormone level in patients with underactive thyroids. In this study, 74,300 patients were given either Metformin or sulfonylurea, over a 25-year study period. In patients with treated hypothyroidism, Metformin monotherapy was linked with 55% increased risk of low TSH levels as compared to the use of sulfonuylurea. Via Science World Report. Posted September 26, 2014.

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