Are you attempting to manage your diabetes while losing weight? "If you are overweight, even a 5% weight loss will significantly impact your health. Not only may losing weight decrease your blood sugar levels, but it can also lessen your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and even how much medicine you need to take. GLP-1 agonists, such as Ozempic, Metformin, and many other drugs, help you to lose weight. But always ask your doctor before making changes in your health. However, avoiding a fast cure is crucial when thinking about your Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes weight loss choices. Here we have listed some of the weight loss drugs for diabetics; you can also look into how they help and their side effects, so continue reading to know more.
Why do diabetics drugs cause weight loss?
Diabetes drugs may alter how the body uses glucose (sugar), resulting in weight fluctuations. A hormone called insulin aids in the process by which your body converts glucose from meals into energy to power your cells. Glucose is transported from the blood to the cells more easily with the help of insulin. This action decreases your blood glucose. However, insulin instructs the liver to convert excess blood glucose into fat when too much glucose is present. Over time, weight growth may result from this additional fat. Insulin behaves like natural insulin when it is taken as medicine. Turning glucose into fat can continue if your blood sugar is not effectively managed. This is why insulin's weight gain adverse effect is most common when people first start taking it. This adverse reaction also applies to drugs instructing your body to produce more insulin. On the other hand, by eliminating excess glucose from your body, some diabetic treatments can lead to weight reduction. Less blood glucose indicates less glucose available for conversion to fat. Consequently, weight loss is a potential adverse effect of a drug that acts by eliminating glucose from the blood.
What diabetic drugs can lead to weight loss?
Five different diabetic drugs might make you lose weight. Each of these drugs functions differently from the others.
1 GLP-1 agonists, such as Ozempic.
The class of drugs is becoming more and more well-liked for treating diabetes and weight reduction. Our bodies' GLP-1 hormone instructs the pancreas to produce insulin after meals. Additionally, it makes us feel full between meals. GLP-1 agonists mimic the effects of GLP-1 in the body. According to some studies, utilizing a GLP-1 agonist caused persons with diabetes to lose as much as 13 pounds. According to several other studies, GLP-1 agonists only generate a 2 lb weight reduction. The amount of weight loss may vary depending on the medicine and dose utilized. Numerous investigations on GLP-1 agonist-induced weight reduction in diabetic subjects lasted between 6 and 12 months. The FDA has authorized several GLP-1 agonists for diabetes, including:
- Semaglutide for weight loss.
- The semaglutide Rybelsus.
- Dulaglutide, or Trulicity.
- Liraglutide Victoza.
2 Mounjaro-
Like GLP-1 agonists, Mounjaro (tripeptide) has an extra boost. It functions similarly to the hormones GLP-1 and GIP, or glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide. Better blood sugar regulation may be possible due to this dual impact. Additionally, this is one of the most effective weight loss drugs for diabetics as Mounjaro for weight loss is also useful than GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic. Many people have doubts about the best place to inject Mounjaro for weight loss as it is important to inject this injection. Depending on the dose, patients using Mounjaro lost an average of 16 to 25 pounds, according to research.
3 Metformin-
One of the most popular diabetic treatments is metformin. It primarily reduces the quantity of blood glucose the liver produces and increases sensitivity to the body's natural insulin. Compared to the drugs on the list above, metformin causes less weight loss. And only some people who take it lose weight. However, studies have shown that after using metformin for a year, some people may lose as much as 6 pounds.
4 SGLT2 inhibitors such as Jardiance-
Weight loss is a side effect of a different class of diabetic drugs known as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Through urine, SGLT2 inhibitors eliminate glucose from the blood. Less glucose in the blood suggests less glucose is available for fat synthesis. While using SGLT2 inhibitors, some people may lose between 4 and 6 pounds. You can start to notice weight loss after using these drugs for six weeks. SGLT-2 inhibitors include, for instance:
- Jardiance (empagliflozin).
- Dapagliflozin, also known as Farxiga.
- Canagliflozin is invokana.
5 Symlin-
Amylin, a hormone, is produced in a lab and is known as Symlin (pramlintide). Amylin slows down the digestion of meals and stops your liver from producing glucose. In the body, Symlin behaves much like amylin does. Most people who take this medicine may lose up to 4 pounds. With Symlin, obese individuals might shed up to 7 lbs. The four primary classes of diabetic drugs that can lead to weight gain are as follows. They all function by modifying the body's insulin levels. As previously discussed, taking drugs that alter your body's insulin levels might result in weight gain.
What are the side effects of these weight loss drugs?
When examining all weight loss drugs for diabetics, neither weight gain nor reduction is a side effect that occurs more frequently. Additionally, not everyone who takes diabetic meds has weight changes. There are several varieties of medicines accessible. They assist in lowering blood sugar in various ways. Medication and lifestyle elements like nutrition and exercise affect the likelihood of weight growth or decrease. People who gain weight may stop taking their medicines. A person's chance of developing diabetic complications increases when they stop taking their prescriptions. If you observe any changes in your weight that concern you, be sure to tell your healthcare physician. They could advise modifying your medicine to lessen this negative effect.
How long do the drugs take to reduce weight?
Within the first several months of taking a diabetic treatment, fluctuations in weight may become apparent. But with GLP-1 agonists or Mounjaro, you could not see noticeable weight loss for over a year (or more). For instance, those taking the 0.5 mg/week dosage of Ozempic lost an average of 8 lbs after 30 weeks (or around 7 months). After 40 weeks (about 9 months), at higher dosages (1 to 2 mg per week), patients shed around 13 to 15 pounds. With Mounjaro, after taking the drug for 72 weeks (more than 16 months), patients dropped between 15% and 20% of their initial body weight.
Conclusion-
Some diabetic treatments might result in weight gain or reduction. Trulicity, Ozempic, and Mount Kilimanjaro can all result in substantial weight reduction. But less, metformin and drugs like Jardiance can aid in weight loss. On the other hand, sulfonylureas, glinides, and insulin frequently lead to weight gain. Some drugs, including Januvia, seldom result in weight gain or loss. Maintaining an ideal weight requires both eating a balanced diet and exercising. To choose the optimal diabetes treatment plan and weight loss drugs for diabetics, consult your medical team closely.
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