What are GLP-1 agonists for Weight Loss

GLP-1 agonists are medications that help lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss. There are many different types. And they’re just one part of your treatment plan if you have Type 2 diabetes or obesity.

GLP-1 agonists are most often injectable medications, meaning you inject a liquid medication with a needle and syringe. You give the shots in the fatty tissue just under your skin (subcutaneous injection). Areas of your body you can give the injections include your belly, outer thighs, upper buttocks and the backs of your arms.

New Meds

These medications are relatively new. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first GLP-1 agonist (exenatide) in 2005. Researchers are still learning about their other potential uses and benefits.

GLP-1 agonists alone can’t treat Type 2 diabetes or obesity. Both conditions require other treatment strategies, like lifestyle and dietary changes.

How do GLP-1 agonists work?

To understand how GLP-1 agonists work, it helps to understand how the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone works.

GLP-1 is a hormone that your small intestine makes. It has several roles, including:

• Triggering insulin release from your pancreas: Insulin is an essential hormone that allows your body to use the food you eat for energy. It lowers the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. If you don’t have enough insulin, your blood sugar increases, leading to diabetes.
• Blocking glucagon secretion: Glucagon is a hormone your body uses to raise your blood sugar levels when necessary. So, GLP-1 prevents more glucose from going into your bloodstream.
• Slowing stomach emptying: Slower digestion means that your body releases less glucose (sugar) from the food you eat into your bloodstream.
• Increasing how full you feel after eating (satiety): GLP-1 affects areas of your brain that processes hunger and satiety.

The Agonist

GLP-1 agonist medications work by mimicking this hormone. In medication terms, an agonist is a manufactured substance that attaches to a cell receptor and causes the same action as the naturally occurring substance. In other words, GLP-1 medications bind to GLP receptors to trigger the effects (or roles) of the GLP-1 hormone. The higher the dose of the GLP-1 agonist, the more extreme the effects.

If you have Type 2 diabetes, the medications help manage your blood sugar by triggering your pancreas to release more insulin. The slowed digestion also helps decrease blood sugar spikes.

The satiety effect of GLP1-agonists reduces your food intake, appetite and hunger. These combined effects often result in weight loss.

When would I need to take a GLP-1 agonist?

Healthcare providers prescribe GLP-1 agonists for two conditions: Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

GLP-1 agonists for Type 2 diabetes

The FDA approves the use of GLP-1 agonists to help manage Type 2 diabetes (T2D). This is because GlP-1 agonists help lower blood sugar levels.

There are several other types of diabetes medications, like oral (taken by mouth) medications. One type of oral medication, metformin, is the go-to medication for treating T2D. But your healthcare provider may recommend a GLP-1 agonist if:

• Metformin isn’t helping manage T2D.
• It’s unsafe for you to take metformin (you have a contraindication).
• You have an A1C that’s higher than your target.
• You haven’t reached your target A1C within three months of treatment and you have additional conditions, like atherosclerosis, heart failure or chronic kidney disease.

Additional therapies

It’s important to remember that the most effective management of T2D involves several therapies, like:

• Lifestyle and diet modifications.
• Exercise.
• Medications.

Together, you and your healthcare provider will determine a treatment plan that works best for you. Providers often prescribe GLP-1 agonists with other medications to achieve the best blood glucose management.

Can I take a GLP-1 agonist if I have Type 1 diabetes?

Researchers are currently studying the safety and effectiveness of GLP-1 agonists for people with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). So far, some studies show that these medications can help lower A1C and help with weight loss in people with T1D.

The FDA hasn’t approved GLP-1 agonists for the treatment of T1D. But some healthcare providers prescribe it off-label. Talk to your provider to see if this is an option for you.

GLP-1 agonists for obesity

The FDA currently approves the use of semaglutide and high-dose liraglutide to help treat obesity. This is because these GLP-1 agonists have weight loss effects. Obesity is a chronic condition in which you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.

Healthcare providers may also prescribe semaglutide or high-dose liraglutide for people who have overweight along with other health conditions if losing weight can help manage the coexisting conditions. Overweight is when you have a BMI of 25 to 29.9.

Obesity is a complex condition. Effective management often requires several therapies, like:

• Dietary changes.
• Exercise.
• Medications.
• Behavior modification programs.
• Bariatric (weight loss) surgery.

If you have obesity or overweight, talk to your healthcare provider to see if a GLP-1 agonist is right for you.

Source:  my.clevelandclinic.org©

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