35 - Instant insights: Hypercortisolism in difficult-to-control type 2 diabetes (8 min)

More than 36 million Americans are living with type 2 diabetes, and an estimated 30%-50% of patients remain uncontrolled. In this episode, Maeson Latsko, PhD, explores an under-recognized contributor to difficult-to-control diabetes: hypercortisolism. Hypercortisolism disrupts glucose metabolism and insulin function, leading to elevated HbA1c that isn’t as responsive to traditional treatment. Providers can screen for hypercortisolism using an overnight dexamethasone suppression test. This episode will Review the clinical characteristics of difficult-to-control diabetes and when hypercortisolism should be considered (1:00) Explain how hypercortisolism contributes to type 2 diabetes (2:25) Outline the clinical approach to screening for hypercortisolism (4:50) To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions. Date: April 2026 Speaker(s):  Maeson Latsko, PhD Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Gregory Buchan, PhD; Sanjay Dixit, MD   Additional Resources Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]   Hypercortisolism in Difficult-To-Control Type II Diabetes | Quest Diagnostics   Ordering information: Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST), 1 Specimen | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics Dexamethasone | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics