What Is Glucagon-Like Peptide 1?
Glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1, is a natural hormone that is released in response to food entering the gut, causing the release of insulin and the feeling of reduced appetite.
What Does GLP-1 Do?
- Improves The Utilization Of Food
- Metabolizes Fat
- Regulates Appetite
- Activates Insulin
- Helps With Blood Sugar Control
- Triggers Satiety
What Are GLP-1 Agonists?
A popular medical treatment for obesity is a once-weekly injection of drugs that work to mimic glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). These drugs, known as GLP-1 agonists, include semaglutide and tirzepatide.
Why Are GLP-1 Agonists Popular Today?
GLP-1 agonist drugs emerged in the treatment of type 2 diabetes beginning in 2005 with Byetta, a form of GLP-1 first identified in the venom of the Gila monster lizard. Byetta and other early GLP-1 agonists immediately acted and required a once or twice-a-day dosage.
In 2017, the first weekly GLP-1 agonist was approved to help type 2 diabetes. In 2021, a higher dosage form of semaglutide, was approved for the treatment of obesity. Tirzepatide is a dual-action agonist as it enhances both GLP-1 and another hormone known as glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) to improve blood sugar control as well as reduce appetite and food intake.
