From Diabetes Breakthrough to Weight Loss Revolution: The Evolution of GLP-1 Therapy

You can’t attend a family gathering or scroll through social media these days without hearing about the benefits of GLP-1 therapy, the two-decade-old diabetes medication that’s now helping millions of Americans lose weight.

At Genesis Personal Healthcare Medicine, we stay at the forefront of these medical advancements. Led by Dr. Gritz Pierre, the Genesis team oversees the safe use of GLP-1 medications to patients nationwide via telehealth. 

To understand why these treatments are so popular, it helps to trace their origins. Here’s what Dr. Pierre wants you to know.

The history of GLP-1 medications

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone that your body produces naturally in your gut. It tells your pancreas to release insulin, which lowers blood sugar. It also slows the rate at which your stomach empties and sends signals to your brain that you're full.

Currently, nearly half of patients in the U.S. diagnosed with diabetes (45%) use a GLP-1 medication, as do about a quarter (23%) of those who have been diagnosed as overweight or obese in the past five years.

The first GLP-1 drug was approved by the FDA in 2005 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. 

Some diabetes patients using these drugs can reduce or eliminate their need for supplemental insulin injections. They’re also used to prevent the progression from prediabetes to full-onset type 2 diabetes.

While GLP-1s are effective for blood sugar control, physicians who prescribed them noticed a consistent side effect: Patients were losing significant weight. 

How the focus shifted to weight management

The transition from a diabetes treatment to a weight loss game-changer is due to how these drugs affect the brain. They target the areas that handle hunger and cravings. 

Their success is unparalleled. According to a 2021 study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, patients using semaglutide (the main ingredient in GLP-1 drugs) lost an average of 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks. This is a major shift from older weight loss drugs that often had limited results or safety concerns.

At our practice, we see this as an opportunity to treat obesity as a chronic medical condition rather than a lack of willpower. We use these medications to help regulate the biological signals that often make traditional dieting difficult.

What patients should know about GLP-1 therapy

If you're considering this treatment, here are a few key points to keep in mind:

• Medical supervision is required to monitor for side effects like nausea or digestive changes.
• These medications are often used long-term to maintain weight loss results.
• Insurance coverage varies, and our team helps you understand your options.
• Lab work is needed to be sure your kidneys and thyroid are healthy before starting.

At Genesis Personal Healthcare Medicine, we combine GLP-1 therapy with personalized nutrition and activity guidance for weight loss.

Whether you have type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, or are severely overweight, to learn if GLP-1s are right for you, book a telehealth consultation with us today. Call us at 718-569-8127.