Karen Earle, M.D.

Caring.com Expert

About

Karen Earle is chief of endocrinology and medical director of Diabetes Services at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. She runs an adult diabetes clinic, working with certified diabetes educators, dietitians, and medical residents to help people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes manage often-complex conditions. A graduate of Yale University Medical School, she also sees patients privately, is active in diabetes advocacy and research, and currently serves as the president of the American Diabetes Association San Francisco Advisory Board.

Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Wednesday March 25, 2009

    1. What does the progression of COPD and type 2 diabetes look like?

      Answer - I am worried that your husband's decreased mobility is contributing to his increased weight and progression of diabetes. Even small amounts of exercise can improve a person's sensitivity to insulin, and therefore decrease the need for more insulin or diabetes medications...

    2. Should a person with uncontrolled blood sugar be on an insulin pump?

      Answer - An insulin pump does not automatically not make blood sugar control better. A pump can be used as an alternative way to deliver insulin. A person on a pump still needs to check blood sugars regularly. In addition, the person wearing a pump needs to learn how to program a pump to determine sensitivity to insulin and carbohydrate...

  2. Friday December 05, 2008

    1. Can diabetes affect a person's memory?

      Answer - Diabetes itself doesn't affect a person’s memory. However, if your father is having many high or low blood sugar episodes, that could be the cause. Multiple instances of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can cause permanent memory defects. Typically, people with memory issues have severely low bloodod...

  3. Monday November 10, 2008

    1. Can a new diabetes drug also help my mother lose weight?

      Answer - Exenatide (brand name: Byetta) is a safe and effective medication for people with type 2 diabetes. It's approved for use in people who are currently taking metformin, a sulfonylurea, a thiazolidinedione, or a combination of these oral diabetes drugs...

  4. Wednesday October 15, 2008

    1. Can pain in my ear be worsened with my diabetes?

      Answer - Of course, ear pain should be evaluated by a doctor, whether or not you have diabetes. There are many possible causes of ear pain such as an ear infection, trauma to the ear, a foreign body in the ear, or a condition known as swimmer's ear, an infection of the outer ear and ear canal, characterized by pain, itchiness, and a feeling of stuffiness in the ear...

  5. Friday July 11, 2008

    1. Will Lantus Help With Dawn Phenomenon?

      Answer - Probably not because Lantus (generic name: insulin glargine), a peakless, long-acting insulin, is a very flat insulin, meaning it provides a constant level of the hormone over a 24-hour period. So it's unlikely to have much impact on what's commonly called the dawn phenomenon...

  6. Thursday April 03, 2008

    1. Can the new drug Symlin help my overweight dad with diabetes?

      Answer - The medication pramlintide (brand name: Symlin) may be an excellent addition to your dad's drug regimen if he already takes mealtime insulin and wants better blood sugar control after eating. Symlin is a synthetic hormone that mimics the actions of a hormone secreted by the pancreas, called amylin, which helps insulin work better...