Diabetes patients tend to lose less weight with GLP-1 drugs
According to Dr Ambrish Mithal, people with diabetes generally experience less weight loss on GLP-1 medicines than those without the condition.
Diabetes patients generally lose less weight when using GLP-1 medicines compared to those without diabetes, according to Dr Ambrish Mithal, group chairman of endocrinology and diabetes at Max Healthcare, Delhi, as reported by The Times of India.
Dr Mithal stated that while newer medicines like semaglutide produced weight loss of around 15 per cent or more in clinical trials, and tirzepatide crossed 20 per cent, individual responses vary enormously.
The drugs work by stimulating insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon, slowing stomach emptying, and acting on the brain to reduce appetite. Beyond weight, there is evidence of heart benefits, slower progression of kidney disease, and improvement in fatty liver disease.
Dr Mithal noted that some patients report a reduction in cravings or 'food noise', where foods like jalebi, gulab jamun, or kachori no longer seem as attractive.
He advised that patients need tailored nutrition and exercise programmes, including strength training, because the medicine reduces how much a person eats but does not teach them what to eat.
The doctor also cautioned that weight commonly returns after withdrawing the drug and that patients should discuss the likely duration of treatment and affordability at the outset.