GLP-1 agonists & diabetes
Some individuals with sort 2 diabetes can handle their situation and attain their goal blood glucose ranges by way of wholesome consuming and being bodily lively, however most additionally want both insulin or different medicines to assist decrease their blood glucose to their goal ranges.
The primary medicine docs typically prescribe to regulate blood glucose, together with wholesome way of life habits, is metformin. However for some individuals metformin doesn’t work properly sufficient to decrease their blood sugar, or they don’t seem to be capable of take it due to unwanted effects or different causes.
Among the many classes of different glucose-lowering medicines for sort 2 diabetes are GLP-1 agonists, also called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and these medicine differ in the way in which they’re administered, together with a day by day oral pill, a day by day injection, or a weekly injection. Examples you might have heard of for diabetes administration in Canada are semaglutide (Ozempic®, Rybelsus®), dulaglutide (Trulicity®), tirzepatide (Mounjaro®), or liraglutide (Victoza®). There are additionally GLP-1 agonist merchandise obtainable in Canada which are designed particularly for weight reduction, together with liraglutide (Saxenda®) and semaglutide (Wegovy®).
GLP-1 agonists typically work by rising your physique’s response to blood sugar within the meals you eat. They have an effect on two hormones created in your pancreas. They improve insulin launch (a hormone that helps decrease blood glucose by shifting it out of your blood stream and into your cells for use for vitality), and so they lower glucagon launch (a hormone that raises blood sugar). These medicines additionally sluggish the emptying of your abdomen into your intestines, so you’re feeling full longer, much less glucose is launched from the meals you eat, and your urge for food is suppressed.
Medicine on this class have gained numerous consideration, due to their facet impact of comparatively quick weight reduction. Some sources declare as much as 20% physique weight reduction per yr. However all medicines have potential unwanted effects. Learn on to be taught extra.
WHO SHOULD TAKE GLP-1 AGONISTS?
The choice about which diabetes medicines are finest for you depends upon a quantity of things, together with your blood glucose readings, your signs, and different well being issues you might have.
Whereas GLP-1 agonists are typically thought-about protected and efficient, they don’t seem to be proper for everybody. Your physician could advocate a GLP-1 agonist for you if:
- Metformin isn’t lowering your blood glucose degree sufficient, or if it unsafe so that you can use it.
- Your A1C degree is greater than your goal degree.
- You haven’t reached your A1C objective (a measure of your three-month common blood sugar degree)
and you’ve got extra well being situations reminiscent of atherosclerosis (a buildup of fat, ldl cholesterol, and different substances in your artery partitions), coronary heart failure, or kidney illness.
BENEFITS AND SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, GLP-1 agonists can have each advantages and unwanted effects. Along with serving to you handle your blood glucose, they might:
- Enable you shed some pounds, which will help you handle your blood glucose
- Cut back your danger of coronary heart illness and kidney illness
- Decrease your blood stress
- Enhance the degrees of ldl cholesterol and triglyceride in your blood
- Enhance fatty liver illness
- Delay the development of diabetes-related nephropathy (nerve injury)
Once you start the medicine or your dose will increase, the most typical unwanted effects are delicate to average nausea, diarrhea, constipation, belly ache, or vomiting. Beginning on a low dose and rising slowly will help with this. Different unwanted effects could embrace dizziness, headache, indigestion, and infections. Some uncommon, however critical, unwanted effects are additionally doable, reminiscent of irritation of your pancreas, imaginative and prescient modifications, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), kidney issues, gallbladder issues, doable thyroid tumours, or critical allergic reactions.
Taking different diabetes medicines together with a GLP-1 agonist could increase your danger of hypoglycemia. It is very important perceive that the load loss results are often solely sustained whereas taking the medicine, and the load can return when the medicine is stopped.
Whereas taking a GLP-1 agonist, it’s best to see your healthcare supplier recurrently to evaluate how properly the medicine is working. You must also contact your supplier in case you:
- Develop bothersome signs
- Don’t suppose it’s working to handle your diabetes
- Are fascinated by stopping the medicine
- Turn into pregnant or are fascinated by getting pregnant
ARE GLP-1 AGONIST MEDICATIONS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Managing diabetes just isn’t a one-size-fits-all plan. Remedy will differ from individual to individual relying on many elements. In case you are contemplating a GLP-1 agonist medicine, like Ozempic, chances are you’ll wish to talk about the next together with your healthcare staff:
- How shut am I to reaching my A1c objective? May a GLP-1 agonist assist me meet that objective?
- How does a GLP-1 agonist differ from the medicines I’m presently taking to handle my diabetes?
- What sort of advantages and unwanted effects can I anticipate?
- What dosage type is true for me? Injection or tablets? Weekly or day by day?
- Am I lined on a provincial or non-public insurance coverage plan for the sort of medicine?
When you have any questions on managing your diabetes or about any of the medicines you’re taking, your London Medicine pharmacists can be found to information you.