GLP-1 medications are amazing, but do you truly know how they were discovered? 🧪
Today, it's hard to miss hearing about GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. While many people talk about these "miracle" drugs, few know the interesting story behind this powerful hormone.You don't need to be a doctor to use the term GLP-1, but it's good to know how it was found and how it became a treatment for diabetes and then obesity.
The Beginning:
Scientists discovered GLP-1 in 1983. They noticed this hormone made the pancreas release more insulin and helped muscles take in sugar better. This helped people with diabetes control their blood sugar. But there was a problem: natural GLP-1 breaks down in just minutes, so it couldn't be used as a medicine.Scientists worked hard to make GLP-1 last longer. They got lucky when they found that the Gila monster, a big lizard with venom, made a hormone in its spit that was like GLP-1 but lasted a whole day!
First Use as Medicine:
Scientists made a copy of the Gila monster hormone called exenatide. In 2005, the FDA said it was okay to use for treating type 2 diabetes. It was called Byetta. So, GLP-1 medicines aren't brand new – they've been around for almost 20 years.
From Diabetes to Weight Loss
While studying how GLP-1 medicines helped with blood sugar, scientists noticed something surprising: people taking these medicines were losing weight. The first GLP-1 medicine for weight loss was called liraglutide (brand name Saxenda), approved in 2014.Scientists then made GLP-1 medicines that could be taken just once a week instead of every day. This led to medicines like semaglutide.
Today's GLP-1 Medicines:
Semaglutide (called Wegovy for weight loss and Ozempic for diabetes) helps people lose more weight than older medicines. The newest one, tirzepatide (Zepbound for weight loss, Mounjaro for diabetes), uses two hormones and helps people lose even more weight.It's important to know the difference between these medicines. If you don't have diabetes, your insurance won't cover Ozempic or Mounjaro. For weight loss, they might cover Saxenda, Wegovy, or Zepbound.Now that you know the story of GLP-1 and the different names for diabetes and weight loss medicines, you can better take care of your health.Good luck on your journey to better health! 💪Remember, this information is just to teach you. Always talk to a doctor before taking any medicine.
I wish you all the best on your journey to getting healthier.
Medical Weight Loss Done Right ©
Dr. Leon Katz
Sources:
1) The discovery and development of GLP-1 based drugs that have revolutionized the treatment of obesity. J. Friedman, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2024 Sep 19;121(39):e2415550121 https://bit.ly/3V25uwt
This article is meant for educational purposes and is not meant to provide any medical advice. Please speak to a medical professional if you have any questions about the medications mentioned in this blog.
