Dr. Jack Merendino, MD

Bio

Dr. John J. "Jack" Merendino, Sharecare Editorial Advisory Board Member, is a board-certified endocrinologist in Bethesda, MD. He is co-author of the New York Times bestseller, The Best Life Guide to Managing Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes. He runs a busy private practice and does consulting for both private industry and government. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine and is Chief of the Endocrine Section at Suburban Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Education

• BS Magna Cum Laude: Chemistry, Georgetown University

• MD: Yale University School of Medicine

• Internship and Residency:  Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School

• Fellowship: National Institutes of Health

• Board Certification: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism; Internal Medicine

Specialties:

Affiliation:

  • Assistant Clinical Professor, The George Washington Univesity School of Medicine. Chairman, Endocrine Section, Suburban Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Location:

  • Bethesda, MD

Activity

  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD of The Best Life answered:

    Do I need medicine if I have borderline thyroid test results?

    First, it is important to understand a little bit about how the thyroid works.  The thyroid gland is normally controlled by the pituitary, a hormone-producing gland that sits at the base of the brain.  The pituitary gland is sometimes called the “master gland,” because it controls several other h...Read More
  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD of The Best Life answered:

    Do thyroid problems cause weight gain?

    This is one of the most common questions I get in my regular clinical practice, and it is one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented issues in all of medicine.

    The most common form of thyroid disease is hypothyroidism, meaning that the thyroid is under-active. In hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland makes...Read More
  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD of The Best Life answered:

    What medications affect sex drive?

    Just as some medications reduce erectile function, others may actually diminish libido. Probably the most common are antidepressants in the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) family: fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), escitalopram (Lexapro), and others. These drugs tend to lessen...Read More
  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD of The Best Life answered:

    What causes erectile dysfunction (ED) in men with diabetes?

    Erectile dysfunction (ED) in men is the most common sexual problem in diabetes, and diabetes is high on the list of causes of ED. A generation ago, it was commonly thought that in most cases ED was caused by psychological problems, such as life stresses, anxiety, or depression.
    These things are sometimes...Read More
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  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD of The Best Life answered:

    What are ketones?

    Ketones are chemicals that appear in the blood and urine when you are developing ketoacidosis, a condition in which there is plenty of glucose in your blood but your cells are literally starving because the glucose can't get inside them. Ketoacidosis can be serious and even life-threatening but in...Read More
  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD of The Best Life answered:

    How can stem cells potentially treat diabetes?

    In the minds of doctors, stem cell research holds the best promise for curing type 1 diabetes. Stem cells have the capability to become cells of different types given the proper environment and the correct chemical signals, and researchers have made excellent progress in turning stem cells into i...Read More
  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD of The Best Life answered:

    How do I treat low blood sugar if I have diabetes?

    When symptoms of low blood sugar strike, check your blood sugar level if possible. If you can't because your meter isn't around or the symptoms are coming on too quickly, just go ahead and treat it immediately to prevent your blood glucose from going even lower and possibly causing you to lose co...Read More
  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD answered:

    How can I make sure my child's car seat is safe?

    The American Academy of Pediatrics has released guidelines on how to keep your child safest in your car. Various states have different laws about child size and necessary restraint, so I like to rely on the AAP guidelines for maximum safety. If you're ever in doubt about whether your car seat is installed...Read More
  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD of The Best Life answered:

    What is insulin?

    Insulin is a hormone that is produced by cells in your pancreas and is essential for maintaining proper health. (A hormone is a chemical that is manufactured in one part of the body and travels through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, where it has powerful effects.) One of insulin’s main jobs is...Read More
  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD of The Best Life answered:

    What is prediabetes?

    The term prediabetes refers to someone who has abnormally high blood sugar, but not high enough to meet the diagnosis of diabetes. There are several criteria that apply.  A fasting blood sugar (taken first thing in the morning when you have not eaten anything for about 8 to 10 hours) would normally...Read More
  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD answered:

    How accurate is the hemoglobin A1c test?

    There are times that the hemoglobin A1c result does not accurately reflect a person’s average blood glucose readings. Hemoglobin A1c is created when glucose in the blood comes into contact with the hemoglobin inside a red blood cell. When a red blood cell is first created in the bone marrow, there...Read More
  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD of The Best Life answered:

    What is glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)?

    Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) gets its name from the fact that it is chemically similar to glucagon, but, like insulin, it lowers blood sugar. GLP-1 is made by cells in the intestine after eating, and it travels via the bloodstream to the pancreas, where it increases the amount of insulin that's...Read More
  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD of The Best Life answered:

    What should be my goals when I start monitoring my blood sugar levels?

    You should have several goals when you first starting monitoring your blood sugar levels, including blood sugar in the normal range, consistently, every time you check -- or at the very least, blood sugar readings in the acceptable range. Knowing how your blood sugar responds to different medications and...Read More
  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD answered:

    What causes type 1 diabetes?

    Type 1 diabetes results when the body is making little or no insulin. Type 1 diabetes has often been referred to as "juvenile" diabetes in the past, because when young people get diabetes it most often type 1, though this is changing as children and adolescents become less physically active and are mo...Read More
  • Dr. Jack Merendino, MD - Bethesda, MD - Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism
    Dr. Jack Merendino, MD of The Best Life answered:

    What medications treat erectile dysfunction (ED)?

    If you watch TV, you know that there are a variety of treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED). The most widely used, of course, are drugs such as Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil), and Cialis (tadalafil). These drugs improve blood flow to the penis. If the drugs don't seem to work immediately,

    ...Read More