MER Endocrinology for Primary Care 2026

Diabetes • Obesity • Lipids • Osteoporosis • Thyroid • Pituitary • Adrenal Disorders

Strengthen your practical approach to common endocrine and metabolic disorders with MER Endocrinology for Primary Care 2026, a focused clinical update from Medical Education Resources (MER).

The original conference was held July 10–12, 2026, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida.

Designed primarily for office-based primary care clinicians and other healthcare professionals, this program reviews the diagnosis and management of major endocrine problems frequently encountered in clinical practice, including:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Type 1 diabetes
• Insulin therapy
• Obesity
• Dyslipidemia
• Cardiovascular risk reduction
• Osteoporosis
• Metabolic bone disease
• Calcium metabolism disorders
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer
• Pituitary disease
• Adrenal hyperfunction
• Adrenal hypofunction
• Endocrine hypertension

The program emphasizes practical patient-specific treatment planning, interpretation of diagnostic testing, contemporary therapeutic options, and evidence-based clinical decision-making.

Course Details

• Course: Endocrinology for Primary Care
• Provider: Medical Education Resources – MER
• Year: 2026
• Dates: July 10–12, 2026
• Venue: Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Location: Walt Disney World® Resort, Florida
• Specialty: Endocrinology
• Primary Focus: Primary Care / Internal Medicine
• Original Live Activity: 12 Credit Hours
• Pharmacotherapeutic Content: 7.00 ANCC Pharmacotherapeutic Contact Hours
• Language: English

Course Overview

Endocrine and metabolic disorders are among the most common chronic conditions encountered in primary care.

Clinicians routinely manage patients with:

• Prediabetes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Insulin-dependent diabetes
• Obesity
• Dyslipidemia
• Osteoporosis
• Abnormal calcium levels
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Thyroid nodules
• Pituitary abnormalities
• Adrenal disorders

Many of these conditions are also closely linked to cardiovascular, renal, skeletal, and metabolic health.

MER Endocrinology for Primary Care 2026 provides a structured clinical review designed to help practitioners move from:

Recognition → Diagnostic Evaluation → Risk Assessment → Individualized Treatment → Monitoring

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants should be better able to:

• Develop patient-specific treatment plans for type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• Diagnose and tailor management strategies for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
• Understand insulin therapy for diabetes.
• Describe the pathophysiology of obesity.
• Review risks and benefits of different weight-management approaches.
• Interpret diagnostic criteria for dyslipidemia.
• Develop individualized lipid-management strategies.
• Understand the role of cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with metabolic disease.
• Identify the risks and benefits of bisphosphonate therapy in osteoporosis.
• Review the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.
• Interpret DEXA scans and FRAX risk assessment.
• Understand metabolic bone disease and disorders involving calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D.
• Review diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to disorders of calcium metabolism.
• Apply case-based learning to osteoporosis management.
• Recognize the clinical risks associated with abnormal thyroid function.
• Review diagnostic evaluation of thyroid nodules.
• Understand the role of thyroid ultrasound and cytology.
• Review thyroid cancer assessment and management concepts.
• Describe treatment options for pituitary disorders.
• Develop management strategies for adrenal hyperfunction and hypofunction.
• Recognize endocrine causes of hypertension.

MER Endocrinology for Primary Care 2026 Curriculum

Day 1 – July 10, 2026

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

A practical review of the diagnosis and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Topics Include

• Diagnosis of diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes management
• Screening
• Prediabetes
• Diabetic emergencies
• Lessons from major diabetes trials
• Individualized therapy
• Lifestyle intervention

Type 2 Diabetes Management

Management of type 2 diabetes should be individualized rather than based on a single treatment algorithm for every patient.

Important factors can include:

• Glycemic status
• Age
• Cardiovascular disease
• Kidney disease
• Weight
• Hypoglycemia risk
• Comorbid conditions
• Medication tolerance
• Cost and accessibility
• Patient preferences

A practical treatment framework is:

Assess Patient → Define Glycemic Goals → Address Lifestyle → Select Therapy → Monitor Response → Adjust Treatment

Insulin Therapy for Diabetes

This session reviews insulin use in:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Key Areas

• When insulin is indicated
• Insulin treatment in T2DM
• Type 1 diabetes treatment
• Glucose monitoring
• Treatment adjustment
• Avoiding hypoglycemia
• Individualizing therapy

Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes

Although both disorders involve abnormal glucose regulation, their pathophysiology and treatment differ significantly.

Type 1 Diabetes

Generally requires continuous insulin replacement.

Type 2 Diabetes

Management may incorporate:

• Lifestyle intervention
• Non-insulin medications
• Injectable therapies
• Insulin when appropriate

Understanding these differences is essential for safe primary care management.

Obesity Management

Obesity is a chronic disease associated with substantial metabolic and cardiovascular risk.

The program reviews:

• Diagnosis
• Pathophysiology
• Complications
• Lifestyle modification
• Appetite-suppressant medications
• Pharmacologic treatment
• Weight-management options
• Bariatric surgery
• When surgery should be considered

Obesity as a Chronic Disease

Effective obesity management requires more than simply advising patients to “eat less and exercise more.”

Important considerations include:

• Biological regulation of appetite
• Energy balance
• Metabolic adaptation
• Comorbid disease
• Behavioral factors
• Nutrition
• Physical activity
• Pharmacologic therapy
• Bariatric procedures

Treatment should be tailored to the individual patient.

Weight Management Options

A practical hierarchy can include:

Lifestyle Intervention → Pharmacologic Treatment → Metabolic/Bariatric Intervention When Appropriate

The appropriate strategy depends on:

• BMI
• Comorbidities
• Previous treatment
• Cardiovascular risk
• Patient goals
• Treatment tolerance
• Surgical eligibility

Osteoporosis

This session reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis.

Topics Include

• Bone health
• Osteoporosis risk
• Bone mineral density
• DEXA interpretation
• FRAX risk assessment
• Fracture risk
• Contemporary treatment options
• Bisphosphonates
• Treatment selection

DEXA & FRAX

Bone-density assessment should be interpreted in the broader context of fracture risk.

Clinicians should consider:

• Bone mineral density
• Age
• Previous fractures
• Family history
• Medication exposure
• Clinical risk factors
• FRAX assessment

Treatment decisions should not rely solely on one numerical DEXA result.

Metabolic Bone Disease

This lecture broadens the discussion beyond osteoporosis.

Topics Include

• Bone strength
• Calcium
• Phosphorus
• Vitamin D
• Bone mass
• Bone structure
• Osteomalacia
• Paget’s disease
• Parathyroid disorders

Metabolic Bone Disorders

Bone strength depends on several interacting factors:

Mineral Homeostasis + Vitamin D + Bone Mass + Bone Architecture + Hormonal Regulation

Disruption of any of these factors may lead to metabolic bone disease.

Day 2 – July 11, 2026

Disorders of Calcium Metabolism

This session reviews normal calcium homeostasis and clinically important abnormalities.

Topics Include

• Calcium regulation
• Hypercalcemia
• Diagnostic evaluation
• Causes of abnormal calcium
• Parathyroid-related disorders
• Treatment approaches

Hypercalcemia Evaluation

An elevated calcium level requires a structured diagnostic approach.

Important considerations may include:

• Primary hyperparathyroidism
• Malignancy
• Medications
• Vitamin-related abnormalities
• Endocrine conditions
• Other metabolic causes

The key is determining the underlying mechanism before selecting treatment.

Endocrinology Cases – Osteoporosis

Case-based learning is used to translate osteoporosis principles into practical management decisions.

Potential considerations include:

• Fracture history
• DEXA findings
• FRAX
• Medication selection
• Bisphosphonate use
• Treatment duration
• Monitoring
• Alternative therapies

Osteoporosis Treatment Planning

Treatment selection may depend on:

• Fracture risk
• Previous fracture
• Bone density
• Age
• Renal function
• Medication contraindications
• Previous osteoporosis therapy
• Risk of adverse effects

The course reinforces individualized rather than uniform treatment.

Lipid Metabolism and Treatment

Dyslipidemia is closely linked to endocrine, metabolic, and cardiovascular disease.

This session reviews:

• Lipid metabolism
• American Heart Association dietary recommendations
• Lipid guidelines
• ADA lipid-management guidance
• Primary cardiovascular prevention
• Secondary cardiovascular prevention
• Elevated triglycerides
• Treatment selection

Dyslipidemia & Cardiovascular Risk

Patients with endocrine disorders frequently have elevated cardiovascular risk.

Treatment planning should consider:

• LDL cholesterol
• Triglycerides
• Diabetes
• Established cardiovascular disease
• Overall cardiovascular risk
• Lifestyle
• Pharmacologic therapy

Lipid Management in Diabetes

Diabetes substantially influences cardiovascular risk assessment.

The program discusses lipid management in both:

• Primary prevention
• Secondary prevention

with emphasis on individualized treatment rather than management of laboratory numbers alone.

Disorders of Thyroid Function

A practical review of:

• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism
• Prevalence
• Diagnosis
• Laboratory testing
• Treatment options

Hypothyroidism

Evaluation may involve:

• Symptoms
• TSH
• Thyroid hormone levels
• Medication history
• Clinical context

Treatment should be individualized according to diagnosis and patient characteristics.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism can produce systemic effects involving:

• Cardiovascular system
• Bone health
• Metabolism
• Neurological symptoms
• Weight
• Heat tolerance

Prompt recognition and appropriate evaluation are important.

Thyroid Nodules and Cancer

Thyroid nodules are common, but only a subset require invasive investigation or treatment.

The program reviews:

• Thyroid nodule evaluation
• Thyroid ultrasound
• Clinical risk assessment
• Cytology
• Cancer evaluation
• Treatment principles

Thyroid Ultrasound

Ultrasound plays an important role in evaluating:

• Nodule size
• Composition
• Echogenicity
• Margins
• Calcification
• Other suspicious characteristics

Imaging findings help guide decisions regarding further evaluation.

Thyroid Cytology

Fine-needle aspiration and cytology may be appropriate for selected nodules based on:

• Nodule size
• Ultrasound appearance
• Patient risk
• Clinical history

The objective is to identify clinically important thyroid malignancy while avoiding unnecessary procedures.

Day 3 – July 12, 2026

Evaluation and Management of Pituitary Disease

Pituitary disorders can affect multiple endocrine pathways.

This session reviews:

• Pituitary disease
• Diagnosis
• Hormonal evaluation
• Treatment options
• Clinical management

Pituitary Disorders

Pituitary abnormalities may result in:

• Hormonal excess
• Hormonal deficiency
• Mass effect
• Secondary endocrine abnormalities

Evaluation often requires integration of:

Symptoms + Hormonal Testing + Imaging + Clinical Context

Adrenal Disorders in Primary Care

The final session reviews evaluation and management of:

• Adrenal hyperfunction
• Adrenal hypofunction
• Endocrine hypertension

Adrenal Hyperfunction

Potential disorders may involve excess production of adrenal hormones.

Clinical evaluation should be guided by the suspected hormonal pathway and presentation.

Adrenal Hypofunction

Adrenal insufficiency is clinically important because severe deficiency can become life-threatening.

Recognition may depend on:

• Clinical symptoms
• Electrolyte abnormalities
• Hormonal testing
• Medication history
• Associated endocrine disease

Endocrine Hypertension

Not all hypertension is primary hypertension.

Selected patients may have an underlying endocrine cause.

Clinical clues can help determine when further endocrine evaluation should be considered.

Major Diabetes Topics Covered

• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
• Type 1 Diabetes
• Insulin Therapy
• Prediabetes
• Diabetes Screening
• Diabetes Management
• Diabetic Emergencies
• Individualized Diabetes Treatment
• Lifestyle Management
• Glucose Control

Major Obesity & Metabolic Topics Covered

• Obesity
• Obesity Pathophysiology
• Weight Management
• Anti-Obesity Medications
• Lifestyle Modification
• Bariatric Surgery
• Dyslipidemia
• Lipid Metabolism
• Triglycerides
• Cardiovascular Prevention
• Metabolic Risk

Major Bone & Calcium Topics Covered

• Osteoporosis
• DEXA
• FRAX
• Fracture Risk
• Bisphosphonates
• Metabolic Bone Disease
• Calcium Metabolism
• Hypercalcemia
• Vitamin D
• Phosphorus
• Osteomalacia
• Paget’s Disease
• Parathyroid Disorders

Major Thyroid Topics Covered

• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism
• Thyroid Function Testing
• Thyroid Nodules
• Thyroid Ultrasound
• Thyroid Cytology
• Thyroid Cancer
• Thyroid Nodule Management

Major Pituitary & Adrenal Topics Covered

• Pituitary Disease
• Pituitary Hormones
• Pituitary Disorders
• Adrenal Disorders
• Adrenal Hyperfunction
• Adrenal Hypofunction
• Endocrine Hypertension

Endocrinology in Primary Care

Primary care physicians often serve as the first clinicians to detect endocrine disease.

Examples include:

• Elevated glucose
• Unexplained weight change
• Abnormal lipids
• Low bone density
• Hypercalcemia
• Abnormal thyroid function
• Thyroid nodules
• Resistant hypertension
• Symptoms suggestive of pituitary or adrenal disease

An effective primary care approach involves determining:

Can This Be Managed in Primary Care? → What Testing Is Needed? → What Treatment Should Begin? → When Is Endocrinology Referral Appropriate?

Diabetes, Obesity & Cardiovascular Risk

Diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia frequently coexist.

Rather than treating each disorder in isolation, clinicians should consider overall:

• Cardiovascular risk
• Metabolic health
• Weight
• Renal function
• Blood pressure
• Lipid levels
• Glycemic control

This integrated approach can help guide more individualized treatment.

Osteoporosis & Fracture Prevention

The goal of osteoporosis management is not merely improving bone-density numbers.

The central clinical goal is:

Reducing Fracture Risk

This requires consideration of:

• DEXA
• FRAX
• Previous fractures
• Age
• Fall risk
• Medication selection
• Treatment adherence

Thyroid Nodules: From Detection to Management

A structured thyroid-nodule pathway can be summarized as:

Nodule Detected → Clinical Risk Assessment → Ultrasound → Determine Need for Cytology → Interpret Findings → Follow or Treat

This approach helps avoid both unnecessary procedures and delayed diagnosis of clinically important thyroid cancer.

Who Should Take This Course?

MER Endocrinology for Primary Care 2026 is primarily targeted to office-based primary care professionals and other healthcare providers seeking updates in endocrine medicine.

It is particularly relevant for:

• Primary Care Physicians
• Internal Medicine Physicians
• Family Medicine Physicians
• Endocrinologists
• Bariatric / Obesity Medicine Specialists
• Cardiologists
• Rheumatologists
• Hospitalists
• General Practitioners
• Residents
• Fellows
• Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Assistants / Associates
• Pharmacists
• Clinicians managing diabetes and metabolic disease
• Clinicians managing osteoporosis and thyroid disorders

Why This Course Is Useful

The strength of MER Endocrinology for Primary Care 2026 is its concentration on endocrine disorders that are frequently managed initially or longitudinally in primary care.

The program can help clinicians:

• Improve diabetes treatment planning
• Review insulin therapy
• Update obesity-management knowledge
• Improve lipid treatment
• Understand cardiovascular prevention in metabolic disease
• Interpret DEXA and FRAX
• Review osteoporosis therapy
• Improve management of calcium abnormalities
• Recognize metabolic bone disease
• Improve thyroid-function evaluation
• Evaluate thyroid nodules
• Understand the role of ultrasound and cytology
• Review pituitary disease
• Recognize adrenal disorders
• Consider endocrine causes of hypertension

The curriculum can be summarized as:

Diabetes → Obesity → Bone Health → Calcium → Lipids → Thyroid → Pituitary → Adrenal

Original Conference Accreditation

The original MER live activity was designated for a maximum of:

• 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
• 12 IPCE Credits
• Up to 12 ABIM MOC Points for eligible participants completing official requirements
• 12 AAFP Prescribed Credits
• 12 ANCC Contact Hours
• 7.00 ANCC Pharmacotherapeutic Contact Hours
• Other professional credit pathways subject to MER requirements

Important CME / Certificate Notice

Official continuing education credit applies to participation through the MER activity and completion of the required official processes.

If the MedicalAmboss product consists only of independently delivered educational files, do not advertise:

• 12 CME Credits Included
• 12 ABIM MOC Points Included
• 12 AAFP Credits Included
• 7 Pharmacology Hours Included
• Official MER Certificate Included

unless official MER registration and credit-claiming access are actually part of the product.

The safer wording is:

Original MER Live Activity: 12 Credit Hours

4. Short Description

MER Endocrinology for Primary Care 2026 provides a focused clinical review of common endocrine and metabolic disorders encountered in primary care.

Topics include type 1 and type 2 diabetes, insulin therapy, obesity management, dyslipidemia, osteoporosis, DEXA and FRAX, metabolic bone disease, calcium disorders, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules and cancer, pituitary disease, adrenal disorders, and endocrine hypertension.

Provider: Medical Education Resources – MER
Dates: July 10–12, 2026
Location: Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World® Resort, Florida
Original Live Activity: 12 Credit Hours

Ideal for primary care physicians, internists, endocrinologists, obesity medicine specialists, cardiologists, rheumatologists, residents, and other healthcare professionals.

Topics

• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Diagnosis and treatment; lessons from the DCCT; managing diabetic emergencies; screening; pre-diabetes.

• Insulin Therapy for Diabetes: Treating T2DM with insulin; T1DM.

• Obesity Management: Diagnosis; etiology; complications; use of appetite suppressant medications; lifestyle modifications; when surgery should be performed.

• Osteoporosis: Review the epidemiology and pathophysiology of osteoporosis along with interpretation of DEXA scans and FRAX risk assessment; up-to-date therapeutic options.

• Metabolic Bone Disease: Disorders of bone strength caused by abnormalities of minerals, vitamin D, bone mass and structure; The role of calcium and phosphorus; Osteomalacia, Paget’s disease and parathyroid disorders.

• Disorders of Calcium Metabolism: Review of calcium homeostasis; causes of hypercalcemia; diagnosis and treatment.

• Endocrinology Cases: Osteoporosis: Challenging case presentations in osteoporosis.

• Lipid Metabolism and Treatment: Review of the most recent American Heart Association Dietary and Lipid Guidelines; Discussion of the most recent ADA guidelines for lipid management for both primary and secondary CV prevention; Detail of treatments for elevated triglycerides and the lack of cardiovascular benefit from fish oil.

• Disorders of Thyroid Function: Prevalence, diagnosis and treatment options of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

• Thyroid Nodules and Cancer: Diagnosis and treatment.

• Evaluation and Management of Pituitary Disease: Diagnosis and treatment of pituitary disorders.

• Adrenal Disorders in Primary Care: Evaluation and management of adrenal hyper and hypofunction; Endocrine hypertension.