GLP-1 medicine equivalent to semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), dulaglutide (Trulicity), and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) are gaining consideration for kind 2 diabetes, however sufferers with kind 1 diabetes (T1D) might also take these medicine. I’m. No, these medicine aren’t accredited for T1D by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA). Regardless of this, many individuals take it off-label with their physician’s full approval.
Though the advantages of GLP-1 therapeutics for T1D are actually very clear, many clinicians stay reluctant to make this remedy extra accessible to this inhabitants.
This is a more in-depth take a look at why T1D sufferers use GLP-1 medicine and why we proceed to name them “sport changers.”
Advantages of GLP-1 medicine for kind 1 diabetes
Listed below are some the explanation why GLP-1 medicine like Ozempic can have a huge impact on T1D well being and blood sugar administration.
- Weight reduction: Weight problems is extremely prevalent in T1D. In actual fact, 62 p.c of T1D sufferers are chubby or overweight. Managing weight in T1D will not be simple, because it requires injections of insulin, a hormone that shops extra glucose as physique fats.
- Hormone well being: In kind 1 diabetes, the physique additionally can not correctly regulate the manufacturing of 5 different hormones that handle urge for food, hepatic glucose manufacturing, satiety, insulin sensitivity, and extra. GLP-1 medicine assist the physique compensate for the misproduction of different hormones.
- Insulin sensitivity: Many individuals with T1D battle to keep up insulin sensitivity. Which means increasingly insulin is required to do the identical job. This makes it tough to succeed in and preserve A1C targets. In actual fact, some clinicians diagnose T1D sufferers with T2D because of the mixture of insulin resistance and weight points. GLP-1 considerably reduces the physique’s day by day insulin necessities, making it simpler to handle blood sugar ranges.
GLP-1 medicine aren’t accredited to deal with kind 1 diabetes, and a few clinicians are nervous as a result of they improve the danger of hypoglycemia. Nonetheless, many T1D sufferers declare simply the other. They consider that medicine like Ozempic can scale back insulin consumption, thereby decreasing the danger of hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia is a reliable threat and decreasing insulin doses is vital when beginning GLP-1 remedy in T1D. If GLP-1 will increase insulin sensitivity, chances are you’ll want to scale back your insulin dose and charge rapidly, ideally with the assistance of your healthcare supplier.
our group expertise
Final 12 months, I heard that many T1D sufferers utilizing GLP-1 equivalent to Ozempic or Mounjaro. Each time I discuss Ozempic on Instagram, I hear increasingly Kind 1s thanking these medicine. They usually shared their experiences with me via interviews and feedback.
Speedy outcomes after simply 2 weeks
Alexis has lived with T1D for over 40 years, however was recognized at simply 18 months previous. She began taking Wegovy simply two weeks in the past, and the results on her T1D had been important and rapid.
“My common blood sugar has dropped from 165 mg/dL to 140 mg/dL. I’ve had hypoglycemia just a few instances, however all I have to do is change my basal insulin dose, particularly within the night. .”
Wigovy is one other type of semaglutide, the identical drug as Ozempic, however prescribed to individuals for weight reduction quite than diabetes. As a result of Alexis’ BMI is over 27, her physician knew her insurance coverage would probably approve Wegovy for weight reduction. With Novo Nordisk coupons, Alexis’ out-of-pocket prices went from $200 a month to only $25 a month.
“My insurance coverage firm mentioned they would not prescribe Ozempic for kind 1 diabetes as a result of it does not work for T1D,” Alexis laughed. “When my physician prescribed Wegovy for weight reduction, they mentioned sure.”
Alexis has tried to shed extra pounds prior to now with out a lot success, probably attributable to extreme insulin resistance.
“My medical workforce instructed me that I used to be taking an excessive amount of insulin and it was making it very tough for me to shed extra pounds,” Alexis mentioned. “I by no means felt full after consuming, and I had a really sticky excessive each afternoon that would not budge. There’s nothing to carry it down.”
Because of Wegovy, these “treble tenacities” are gone.
“My cussed afternoon highs are gone. I’ve already misplaced 5 kilos in two weeks,” Alexis mentioned. “I additionally really feel way more glad after consuming. With Wegovy, I can eat a standard quantity of meals and nonetheless really feel full. I also can eat a small snack between meals and really feel glad.”
The one facet impact she has skilled is delicate nausea within the morning on an empty abdomen and when there may be an excessive amount of time between meals.
“Managing my blood sugar ranges has develop into a lot simpler. …I used to be very impressed.”
Why T1D nurses select Mounjaro
chris zork,nurse I’m a diabetes skilled and have been residing with T1D for over 37 years. Presently, he additionally prescribes GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 medicine equivalent to Ozempic and Mounjaro to T1D sufferers.
“Munjaro has been an ideal drug for me. At first it simply decreased my basal charge, however after a month I noticed I needed to make some main changes to all my insulin doses as I turned way more delicate. It turned clear inside.”
Chris feels that essentially the most highly effective side of this drug for T1D sufferers is the way it inhibits the overproduction of sugar within the liver.
“The primary impact of this drug, which could be very interesting to me, is the overproduction of glucose from the liver. Personally, I really feel the best profit at evening. I eat much less and my weight begins to slowly come off. I am not a heavy particular person to start with, but it surely helped me lose some additional weight and get slightly slimmer. A lot of my sufferers shed extra pounds and lose extra fats cells. He says there may be. ”
Chris factors out that these medicine have advantages past diabetes and weight administration.
“We’re now studying extra about the advantages for cardiovascular and renal safety. On the neurological facet, we’re additionally seeing decreased threat of dementia and advantages for individuals with sleep apnea.” The literature is filled with advantages.”
For sufferers with T1D, doses have to be began low and elevated very slowly, not often reaching the complete “therapeutic” dose that may be given to somebody with T2D or weight problems. he firmly believes.
“Kind 1 sufferers who take insulin are undoubtedly in danger for hypoglycemia with these medicine, however we’ve to be actually cautious to not improve the dosage of those medicine too rapidly. You need to begin low and sluggish. I do not give sufferers the best doses of those medicine. I additionally inform many sufferers that they have to be cautious about their fluid consumption as a result of these medicine have an effect on each urge for food and thirst. Please be sure to remain hydrated!”
Chris additionally talked about the plateau impact.
“I’ve seen sufferers whose outcomes plateau after a few 12 months,” Chris says. “Though this was anticipated, I don’t intend to proceed growing the dosage. Stick with a snug dosage and encourage different way of life habits to keep up effectiveness. In Kind 1, the dosage I do not suppose we have to maintain growing it.”
Teenagers utilizing Ozempic
“She makes use of a pump, inhaled insulin, and Ozempic,” mentioned her mom, Kelly, about her 15-year-old daughter with T1D. “We would like her to have all of the instruments to handle, however some days are nonetheless actually robust.”
“We reached a degree in her early teenagers the place she had sufficient insulin resistance to trigger important weight achieve regardless of a really nutritious diet and a really energetic way of life. ”
“I am nervous about her taking insulin, the insane quantity of insulin wanted simply to appropriate the highs and meals boluses, and the dangers of physique picture and consuming problems that include taking a lot insulin.” We needed to have the ability to keep away from it. The extra insulin you want, the tougher it’s to handle.”
Ozempic has considerably decreased my insulin wants and I now really feel safer and simpler to handle my blood sugar ranges.
“Now we have actually nice endocrinologists who’re very supportive of latest approaches to T1D administration, together with loop remedy and inhaled insulin,” Kelly mentioned.
Acquiring Ozempic was simple as a result of her endocrinologist had clearly documented her insulin resistance and communicated it effectively within the prescription particulars.
“She began on a really low dose of simply 10 clicks, which isn’t even near the beginning dose of 0.25 (milligrams) mg,” Kelly defined. “Now we have additionally labored with Integrative Diabetes Providers to offer extra teaching on its use.”
Kelly’s daughter acquired her first shot in mid-March. Her insulin necessities decreased by about 20% virtually instantly and have continued to lower ever since. She is now taking about 50 p.c of the insulin she used to.
“There have been a number of moments the place I needed to instantly scale back my insulin dose due to low blood strain,” Kelly defined. “She must be aware of rapidly adjusting her insulin dosage as circumstances change. She can be very delicate to insulin, so it may be tough proper after her menstrual cycle begins, however she does not get the insulin she wants. Much less total means every part is less complicated to handle.”
Kelly credit the T1D on-line group for serving to her find out about insulin, weight administration, and insulin resistance points.
“Medical doctors do not train us this, however we’re grateful that our endo is so cooperative after we go to the physician and check out this stuff,” Kelly mentioned. Stated. “Something you are able to do to make your life slightly extra regular and extra manageable. All of this comes with the standard diabetes administration instruments, plus privileges and assets to get educated about them and pay for these prices. I’m.”
I lastly misplaced weight
“I took Ozempic for a number of years,” says Melissa, who was recognized with T1D about 25 years in the past. “It was like a miracle remedy for me!”
For Melissa, Ozempic eradicated her excessive blood sugar fluctuations and fixed starvation pangs.
She was having hassle managing her weight via weight loss plan and train alone. My unbeatable insulin resistance made every part really feel unattainable. The size did not transfer in any respect, and regardless of how laborious I attempted to shed extra pounds, I saved gaining weight.
“Because of Ozempic, I used to be lastly in a position to shed extra pounds,” she remembers. “Earlier than, I used to be at all times figuring out steadily, although I used to be consuming very well, monitoring my energy, and exercising usually. get hold of Weight. “
Sadly, Melissa needed to take a break from Ozempic whereas she deliberate her being pregnant. It is because Ozempic has not been studied for security in growing fetuses.
“To this point I have never been in a position to conceive, my weight is again on, and my blood sugar ranges are fluctuating like they used to.”
Pissed off and feeling defeated, Melissa desires to return to Ozempic, however is aware of that her personal will to develop into pregnant will get in the way in which for now.
my expertise
I began consuming Ozempic a few 12 months and a half in the past. I needed to cease utilizing it for just a few months as a result of I misplaced insurance coverage protection. That is after I actually understood how a lot it helped me.
At present I’m taking a small dose of 0.25mg as prescribed by my physician. I attempted growing the dose to 0.5mg, however I felt stomach ache that I did not really feel at decrease doses. I have never used Ozempic for weight reduction, in order that small dose appears to be sufficient.
This makes every part about T1D simpler, however there may be one caveat. For those who eat a slow-digesting meal earlier than mattress, you are extra more likely to want a bolus through the evening to forestall spikes.
In any other case, because of that small quantity of Ozempic, it is going to be simpler to keep up weight, really feel full throughout meals and suppress extra sugar from the liver. I additionally had considerably much less hypotension whereas taking Ozempic as a result of my total insulin wants had been decreased, particularly throughout meals, and I took much less insulin than common.
Low-dose Ozempic, mixed with a day by day routine centered round train and entire meals, could make life with T1D a lot simpler.
Extra T1D shares: Ozempic and T1D feedback from Instagram
Each time I put up about Ozempic on Instagram, I obtain dozens of feedback from different T1Ds who’re taking semaglutide (Ozempic, Wigoby), tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), or dulaglutide (Trulicity). The vast majority of these feedback are glowing critiques about how a lot these medicine have helped them handle blood sugar ranges, enhance insulin sensitivity, and shed extra pounds.
These feedback have been flippantly edited for spelling and readability.
“My on-range time at Ozempic was 94-96%! I used to be sick thrice in six months!” – Lorin
“Ozempic has been the most effective factor for my diabetes administration and weight. Earlier than, it felt like I used to be consistently combating a brick wall.” – Jessica
“I am on day 4 of taking Munjaro on the lowest dose and I am loving it. My TIR went from 75 p.c to 90-95 p.c. I had slightly facet impact (nausea) on the second day. However aside from that it was nice. My Dr. Endo is de facto supportive of those medicines for kind 1 and I belief her fully.” – Christina.
“I’ve no want for Humalog and my Lantus dose has been reduce in half. I’m presently titrating and have had no uncomfortable side effects.” – Dan (LADA)
“I’ve T1D and have been taking Trulicity for a few 12 months and it has had an incredible impact on my blood sugar ranges. I have never taken any insulin in two weeks as a result of I am poor and I am utilizing extra insulin. I hope my physician switches me to Ozempic quickly!” – Riza
“It actually makes a world of distinction!” – Maya
“I have been on Munjaro for 2 weeks now. Though I am on the bottom dose, I am proud of how good my sugar vary is. I am utilizing Omnipod, so I set all my basal charges fairly low.” I wanted it and it was nice!” – Heidi
“It is an ideal drug. Typically I really feel like I’ve cured my kind 1 diabetes (as a result of it is a lot simpler to handle).” – Dana
“I have been doing this for nearly a month now. The day after the shot I came upon I had a 500 low. This half was tough, but it surely’s getting simpler. Urge for food I actually just like the suppressive impact and the garments I put on really feel so significantly better. It looks as if my frozen shoulder has gone away! If this continues to work so effectively for me, I will be doing it endlessly. I’ve solely taken half of the beginning dose, however it’s working very effectively.” Natalie
“It is very handy. I used to take 130 items per day on a tandem pump. Now I am taking 30-35 items per day on a pump and I’ve misplaced 55 kilos and saved it off. Highest within the vary. Ozempic has undoubtedly helped me with my resistance. It’s serving to me on this respect.” Nikki
“I am glad I had it, however my insurance coverage will not cowl it anymore. I undoubtedly noticed an enchancment with my sugars.” – Elle
“I attempted it, however I did not get any recommendation on learn how to handle my insulin dosage, so it could generally drop like loopy and be very tough to get again up.” – Jules
“Ozempic is nice for blood sugar management. I really feel like I can deal with my T1D now.” – Erica
“I am in Munjaro and it is only a sport changer.” – Fernanda
“My first endocrinologist would not give me Ozempic, however then my new present endophysician cleared me to present it to me. My blood sugar ranges for a T1D affected person are wonderful. ” – Grace
