It has been a long time coming, but finally, there has been some breakthrough medication for diabetes management. There is a class of drugs out called GLP-1 receptor agonists that have been shown to be beneficial for weight loss and diabetes management. Read on to learn more about them, and how they help support managing one’s diabetes.

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Many of these drugs are injected daily or weekly and mimic hormones released when you are eating, ultimately lowering blood sugar. These drugs are also thought to slow down digestion which curbs appetite by producing a “full” feeling. Some brand names of these drugs include Ozempic, Trulicity, and Victoza. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that using GLP-1 over a 15-week period resulted in an average of 35 pounds of weight loss. The drugs have also been shown to be effective in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, although it’s not clear if these benefits are due to the drugs or weight loss. Generally, side effects are minimal but do include nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. When coupled with other diabetes drugs, low blood sugar might also be another complication.

If considering these drugs, talk to your doctor and pharmacist about your options, especially with insurance plans. If using for weight loss, you might need to pay a lot of money out of pocket. There are coupons that can be used to get started.