Ask Dana: What are the benefits of using Ozempic While Having Type 1 Diabetes?
IDS Director of Technology and Applied Research, Dana Roseman
QUESTION:
Dear Dana,
I’ve been living with type 1 diabetes for years and recently was prescribed Ozempic. I see so many ads for this medication, and I know it is for people living with type 2 diabetes. I didn’t get much information from my doctor and there is not much online about using GLP-1’s for people living with type 1 diabetes. So, what are the benefits for me to use it?
Suzebelle Gosling
Buffalo, New York
ANSWER:
Dear Suzebelle,
This is such a great question and one I get asked quite a bit.
While Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) Agonist medications like Ozempic (and Mounjaro which is a GLP-1/GIP) are approved for type 2 diabetes, research, provider and patient experiences are showing that they are also beneficial for people living with type 1 diabetes. These medications don’t take the place of insulin but they can help your insulin work more effectively and safely improve blood glucose along with insulin therapy.
A GLP-1 mimics a naturally occurring hormone in a few ways. First, the medications work to slow down your digestive system which in turn keeps you full longer after you have completed a meal. This feeling of satiety helps reduce carbohydrate cravings in many people. Slower digestion can also decrease dramatic spikes in blood sugars after a meal.
- Often people with T1D taking a GLP-1 notice they are using less insulin to correct high blood sugars after many meals. Additionally, this slowing of the digestion system can also help to better match food metabolism to insulin peak times.
- Second, GLP-1’s decrease sugar production and secretion from one’s very own liver. Even people living with type 1 diabetes produce excess sugar from their liver. So, this reduction directly impacts how much insulin someone needs and how sensitive someone is to external insulin. As such, a GLP-1 can help lower your overall daily insulin requirements.
- Third, as mentioned above, GLP-1’s help keep you full for a longer period of time after eating. This phenomenon typically leads to weight loss while taking these medications. If you have been frustrated with your weight or if you struggle with your insulin needs while trying to eat less, a GLP-1 can be a very powerful tool.
While GLP-1’s foster many positive health benefits, they are still considered “off-label” based upon FDA-approved medications for people living with T1D. Many providers support the benefits of the medications despite their “off-label” classification. However, it is important to work with an informed group of providers who are experts in navigating not only the insulin requirements when you start such medications but know ways to avoid any negative side effects associated with GLP-1 usage. Specifically, because these medications improve insulin sensitivity and lower insulin requirements, careful adjustments to insulin dosages need to be made to avoid hypoglycemia.
Be sure to work closely with your diabetes care team during this process. The team at IDS has expert knowledge in navigating the use of GLP-1’s in people living with T1D and can help support you while adjusting your medications. With the right support and monitoring, this class of medications can help make a meaningful impact on your diabetes management.
Korayem, G. B., & Almohammed, O. A. (2024). Effectiveness and Safety of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(21), 6532.
If you need more individualized guidance, connect with our team here at IDS!
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