Tirzepatide reduces the risk of diabetes by 94%

In the clinical trial, researchers studied 1,032 adults who had both prediabetes and obesity or other weight control problems.

The study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were placed on a calorie-restricted diet and asked to exercise regularly.

Participants who received trizepatide received weekly injections of 5 milligrams (mg), 10 mg, or 15 mg. The other participants received a placebo. The results of the clinical trial showed:

• In participants who received tirzepatide over the 176-week period, the risk of
  94% of patients are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Those who received the 15mg dose experienced a nearly 23% decrease in body weight compared to
  about 2% in people given a placebo.
• People who received the 10 mg dose lost an average of almost 20% of their weight.
• Those taking the 5 mg dose experienced an average weight loss of about 15%.

The researchers reported that participants who stopped taking tirzepatide regained weight during the 17-week follow-up period and their risk of developing type 2 diabetes decreased by 88% compared with the placebo group.

Experts said data from Eli Lilly's study supported the idea that weight loss is a long-term commitment.

“The study showed that weight regain is common after stopping these medications,” said Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of the MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California. Ali is not involved in the study.

“Many doctors are beginning to view obesity as a long-term chronic condition like diabetes or high blood pressure; therefore, long-term treatment may be needed to maintain weight loss,” Ali told Healthline.

Robert Gabbay, MD, PhD, chief scientific and medical officer of the American Diabetes Association, agreed with the need for a long-term commitment. Gabbay is also not involved in the study.

“These drugs, like most drugs, only work when they are used, so it's not surprising that once you stop therapy, you gain weight back. We've seen this in other studies with this class of drugs,” Gabbay told Healthline.

“Overall, once the full results are available and published, this will become another consideration for high-risk individuals with prediabetes to flatten the curve in the number of new cases of diabetes,” he added.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Estimates that about 40% of adults in the United States are obese.

According to experts, weight gain due to obesity can cause a variety of health problems, including:

• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Fatty liver disease
• certain types of cancer
• stroke

In addition, the CDC estimates that obesity results in annual medical expenses of over $170 million.

The first GLP-1 drug that permit from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was exenatide. It was given the green light in 2005 to treat type 2 diabetes.

The first GLP-1 drug approved specifically for weight loss was Saxenda (liraglutide) in 2014.

Wegovy, a semaglutide drug, received FDA approval for weight loss in 2021. Since then, other GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic as well as the drugs containing tirzepatide, have been in the spotlight for their ability to suppress appetite and help people lose weight.

Over the past two years, there have been numerous studies touting the benefits of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. In addition, researchers have reported that GLP-1 drugs can help:

“The results of the study will likely increase the number of people seeking these medications,” Ali said. “Surgical weight loss still has the best long-term outcomes for those who are eligible. These medications are currently the most effective alternative to surgery.”

Taking weight loss medications has side effects. Researchers found that some participants in the SURMOUNT 1 study developed mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms.

Specific side effects of GLP-1 medications may include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Digestive disorders

The researchers also pointed out that Zepbound could cause tumors in the thyroid and possibly lead to thyroid cancer.

They pointed out that people should consult their doctor before taking medications like Zepbound. They added that people who take medications like insulin to treat diabetes should monitor their blood sugar levels while taking Zepbound.

They also said that the effectiveness of birth control pills may be reduced when taking Zepbound.

“I advise patients who start taking these medications to use them as a tool to achieve a healthier diet and lifestyle,” Ali said. “Depending on the degree of obesity, the patient may also require long-term treatment to
sustainable results.”

The latest clinical trial results from GLP-1 pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly show that tirzepatide helped participants maintain their weight after 3 years. The resulting weight loss also helped significantly reduce participants' risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Experts agree that GLP-1 drugs are effective and encourage people to commit to long-term weight loss through eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.