The GLP-1 Guide: What Are GLP-1 Medications and Why Everyone’s Talking About Them

By Nadia Al-Samarrie

Part 1 – What Are GLP-1 Medications and Why Everyone’s Talking About Them

Introduction

Every decade or so, a breakthrough reshapes how we understand diabetes. Today that breakthrough is the GLP-1 receptor agonist — a class of medications that helps millions manage blood sugar, reduce weight, and deepen our understanding of how the gut, brain, and metabolism work together.

At Diabetes Health, we’ve been watching the conversation around GLP-1 therapies evolve from clinical possibility to mainstream care. My goal here is to help you understand what these medications do — and how they might fit into your life.

GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide 1, a hormone naturally produced in the gut. After you eat, it tells the pancreas to release insulin, slows stomach emptying, and signals the brain that you’re full. These simple messages—steady blood sugar, calmer digestion, and a sense of satisfaction—form the body’s built-in balance system.

The Medications Behind the Movement

As someone who has covered diabetes care for decades, I’ve seen treatments come and go. What’s different this time is not just the outcome — it’s the mechanism. These medicines partner with your body’s own rhythm.

Several GLP-1 receptor agonists are now approved in the U.S.:

• Exenatide (Byetta®, Bydureon BCise®) — also available as generic exenatide injection (Amneal Pharmaceuticals, approved Nov 2024)

• Liraglutide (Victoza® / Saxenda®) — also available as generic liraglutide injection 18 mg/3 mL (Hikma Pharmaceuticals, approved Dec 2024)

• Dulaglutide (Trulicity®)

• Lixisenatide (Adlyxin®)

• Semaglutide (Ozempic®, Rybelsus®, Wegovy®)

• Combination product: Soliqua® 100/33 (insulin glargine + lixisenatide)

• Dual GLP-1/GIP agonist: Tirzepatide (Mounjaro® / Zepbound®)

Together, these medications are transforming how clinicians treat type 2 diabetes and related metabolic conditions.

How GLP-1 Medications Work

Unlike older diabetes treatments that simply push blood sugar down, GLP-1 medications help the body relearn how to balance itself.
They partner with your own hormones instead of forcing a single response.

• Pancreas: Helps release just the right amount of insulin when blood sugar rises and signals the liver to slow its own glucose production.

• Stomach: Slows how quickly food leaves the stomach, so sugar enters the bloodstream more gradually.

• Brain: Activates regions that make you feel full and satisfied, reducing cravings and overeating.

• Heart & blood vessels: Many patients also see improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall cardiovascular health.

A 2021 New England Journal of Medicine study found that semaglutide (Ozempic®) lowered average A1C by 1.9 points and produced about a 15 percent weight reduction in participants with diabetes [1].

Beyond glucose control, new research suggests GLP-1 pathways may also calm inflammation and support brain health [2]. Early studies show they help quiet the body’s stress signals and encourage cellular repair — discoveries now being explored for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

A Balanced View — Benefits and Possible Side Effects

Most people tolerate GLP-1 medications well, but as with any treatment, there are possible downsides.
The most common reactions include nausea, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and fatigue, especially during dose increases.
Eating smaller meals and starting slowly can help the body adjust.

Rare but serious effects can include pancreatitis, gallbladder inflammation, or kidney strain in susceptible patients.
Because these medications reduce appetite, maintaining muscle and bone strength through protein and resistance exercise is important — particularly for older adults. So far, no direct evidence links GLP-1 use to bone density loss, but long-term studies are ongoing.

When therapy is stopped, some people experience partial weight regain, especially if lifestyle changes aren’t in place. For lasting success, GLP-1 medications work best as part of a comprehensive plan that includes healthy eating, movement, and stress management.

Always discuss individual risks and benefits with your healthcare provider before starting or stopping treatment.

A New Era in Metabolic Medicine

GLP-1 therapies represent more than a way to control blood sugar—they introduce a form of metabolic rehabilitation.
Instead of pushing the body harder, they help it remember its own rhythm of hunger, energy, and recovery.

For people with diabetes, that means fewer highs and lows and better quality of life.
For those watching blood sugar or trying to prevent type 2 diabetes, these discoveries show how daily choices in food, sleep, and stress management influence the same hormonal pathways that GLP-1 medications target.

The Human Side of Science

Behind every prescription is a story: the person who can walk again without fatigue, the patient whose A1C finally stabilizes, or the individual who feels peace with food for the first time in years.

At Diabetes Health, we believe medical progress is most powerful when paired with mindfulness and self-compassion. GLP-1 medications offer hope not only through science but through renewed trust in the body’s capacity to heal and respond to care.

I believe that progress in diabetes care isn’t only about improving numbers — it’s about deepening our self-awareness. As people begin noticing how GLP-1 medications affect their hunger, energy, and mood, they start paying closer attention to their body’s signals. This awareness inspires better questions — not just “What should I eat?” but “How does this choice make me feel?” and “What does my body need right now?”

In many ways, that’s what The GLP-1 Guide: Science, Soul, and the Future of Wellness is all about — using science as a bridge to greater self-understanding, and creating space for people to align medical progress with mindful living.

Editor’s Note — Looking Ahead

This article launches The GLP-1 Guide: Science, Soul, and the Future of Wellness, a continuing series from Diabetes Health examining how these medications are reshaping the conversation around metabolism and mind-body health.

The next installment builds on this foundation and delves into emerging research that is changing the way we think about healing from the inside out. Stay tuned as we explore the science behind this transformation.

You may also be interested in reading The Hidden Link Between Gut Health and Diabetes.

Source

Nature Metabolism

New England Journal of Medicine

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology 

The Lancet 

Diabetes Care 

Cell Metabolism 

American Diabetes Association (ADA) 

Cleveland Clinic 

National Institutes of Health (NIH – NIDDK) 

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