When you look at the numbers, it’s clear that the United States has a collective health problem. Every year, doctors diagnose 1.2 million Americans with diabetes. In fact, more than 11% of the U.S. population has diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Another 97 million adults have prediabetes, which puts them at high risk of developing the disease.
This explains the sense of excitement and hope in the medical community when a medication called GLP-1 received FDA approval a few years ago for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
These feelings were supercharged when the medication was also found to help with other serious health issues. These include obesity as well as heart disease and stroke in certain people. GLP-1 was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reduce the risk of developing these conditions.
If you’re interested in talking to a doctor about the medication, it helps to educate yourself. To get you started, Shirley Jiang, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for ReflexMD, shared top five GLP-1 questions to ask your doctor. Read on to learn how the medication works, what you can (and should) expect, and much more.
GLP-1 Question #1: What is GLP-1 and how does it work?
“Knowing how a medication works helps you understand why it’s being prescribed,” says Dr. Jiang. “And what benefits you can expect.”
Here are the basics. GLP-1 is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which means it mimics a hormone in your body called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). This hormone tells your body to release insulin and keep your blood sugar at a good level.
This offers tremendous benefits for weight loss and maintaining a healthy blood sugar. It also lowers the risks of cardiovascular issues like heart attacks and strokes, according to Mayo Clinic.
Read more about the medication and how it works, and get answers to other GLP-1 questions, in The Ultimate Guide To GLP-1.
GLP-1 Question #2: Am I a good candidate for GLP-1?
You can talk to your doctor about whether GLP-1 is a good fit for you, based on your personal medical history.
“You want to discuss whether you’ll have any issues with the medication,” says Dr. Jiang. “For example, if you have a history of medullary thyroid cancer, that would make you a bad candidate. Or if you have a normal BMI [body-mass index] and you’re interested in GLP-1 for weight loss, as opposed to diabetes treatment, you’re not going to qualify.”
Consult with a ReflexMD prescriber to determine whether a GLP-1 could be right for your needs.
GLP-1 Question #3: What should I expect in terms of weight loss?
This is perhaps the most common of all GLP-1 questions. Some people’s stories online are overhyped and may not accurately reflect typical results. And if you have unrealistic hopes, you might feel discouraged.
“It’s important to have clear expectations of how much weight on average a person loses based on studies that have been done,” Dr. Jiang explains. And your results can depend on your personal medical history. For example, “People with diabetes typically have a harder time losing weight,” she adds.
Another reason to have healthy expectations: Your doctor can create the right strategy for weight loss rather than being too aggressive. Here are five essential facts about what you can realistically expect—and advice for success.
“Depending on what your own goals are, it can help determine the trajectory of your treatment,” Dr. Jiang adds. “For example, if you’re doing well on a certain dose it won’t need to increase every month.”
GLP-1 Question #4: What are the most common side effects of GLP-1?
Before you start any medication, it’s important to know the side effects so you can assess the pros and cons.
In a long-term study from the New England Journal of Medicine, the most common side effects of GLP-1 were (in order) nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. These side effects are usually mild to moderate, research shows. And tend to decrease over time as your body gets used to the medication.
“For some people, nausea is not something they ever want to feel,” says Dr. Jiang. “So if they’re really sensitive to nausea, this might not be a good medication for them. They might be better served with another injectable that has less GI side effects.”
GLP-1 Question #5: What should I expect when I’m taking the medication?
“Knowing the side effects will let you stay in tune with what’s going on when you take the medication,” Dr. Jiang says. You’ll be able to monitor how you feel in case symptoms persist or get worse. It’s normal to experience side effects during the first weeks. Understanding this will make less likely to feel anxious or afraid if they do occur.
“A lot of people get really anxious anytime something happens while on this medication,” Dr. Jiang adds. They attribute it to GLP-1, but it might be unrelated.”
Armed with these five GLP-1 questions, you can have a constructive talk with your doctor. Then, you can make the right decision for your health and wellbeing.
If you think a weight loss medication like GLP-1 might be right for you, chat with a ReflexMD Wellness Advisor now. Or take our short quiz to see if you qualify.
