Which diabetes medications help with weight loss?
Several diabetes medications are associated with weight loss. They include:
- Metformin
- α-glucosidase inhibitors
- Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors
- Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists
- Amylin mimetics
In June of 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Wegovy (semaglutide), the first diabetes drug for weight loss in people who are obese or overweight and have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. This medication is a GLP-1 receptor agonist.
GLP-1 is a chemical messenger (hormone) in the body that travels to the brain to reduce appetite by causing a feeling of being full. In a clinical trial reviewed by the FDA to approve Wegovy, adults with type 2 diabetes who took Wegovy lost 6.2% of their body weight compared to adults with type 2 diabetes who took an inactive placebo.
Wegovy is given as a weekly under-the-skin injection and should be used along with diet and exercise for long-term weight loss.
According to guidelines from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), weight loss for people with type 2 diabetes who are obese or overweight can improve control of blood sugar. Diet and physical activity are recommended for weight loss (and sometimes combined with weight loss medications), but some medications used to treat diabetes, like insulin, may cause weight gain.
ADA recommends choosing medications for people with type 2 diabetes that do not cause weight gain whenever possible.
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References
- American Diabetes Association (ADA). Diabetes Care: Obesity Management for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2018. June 2018. Available at: https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/41/Supplement_1/S65. [Accessed December 14, 2021].
- American Diabetes Association (ADA). Medications. 2019. Available at: http://main.diabetes.org/dforg/pdfs/2019/2019-cg-medications.pdf. [Accessed December 14, 2021].
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA Approves New Drug Treatment for Chronic Weight Management, First Since 2014. June 2021. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-drug-treatment-chronic-weight-management-first-2014. [Accessed December 14, 2021].
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