The drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro), which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in May 2022, was found to help achieve blood sugar control and weight loss goals faster than other types of diabetes medications in a new study.
Research presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting in Sweden showed that for adults who took injectable doses of tirzepatide instead of Rybelsus or daily insulin:
“Even a small amount of weight loss, 5 to 10 percent, can dramatically improve your blood glucose numbers,” Lauren Sepe, a clinical nutritionist at Kellman Wellness Center in New York, told Healthline.
Mounjaro mimics two natural insulin-releasing and appetite-suppressing hormones in one injection. Because of the effects of the drug on blood-sugar levels and weight loss, adults with type 2 diabetes could also have fewer long-term complications than those not taking it, researchers said.
Reducing sugar and carbohydrate intake is essential, but managing diabetes isn’t as simple as cutting certain items out of your diet.
Lori Chong, a registered dietician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, offers the following suggestions for managing weight and blood sugar.
With diabetes, blood sugar isn’t the only concern. It can also impact heart, kidney, eye, and nerve health.
Because it can be hard to make diet changes, Chong suggests working with a registered dietitian for personalized advice.
She said it is essential to make changes that are sustainable over time.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, according to the National Institutes of Health.
It occurs when blood glucose, or blood sugar, is too high. Blood sugar comes from our foods and is our primary energy source.
“For many people with diabetes, their cells do not properly respond to the insulin. Therefore, the pancreas continues to pump more and more insulin out. Yet, the circulating glucose levels remain high in the bloodstream,” explained Sepe.
“Over time, this persistently elevated glucose level can result in diabetes, leading to chronic inflammation, which can put you at risk for other chronic conditions,” she added.
There are certain lifestyle factors and health conditions that can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes:
Symptoms can develop so gradually that you might not notice them until they get health-related problems such as heart disease.
Symptoms include:
Some people do not have symptoms, so experts say it is essential to have regular checkups and routine blood tests.
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Current Version
Sep 19, 2022
By
Eileen Bailey
Edited By
David Mills
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