Hello there. I'm Monica Rineagle, and you are listening to the Nutrition Diva podcast, a show where we take a

closer look at the latest nutrition research, headlines, and trends so that you can make more

informed choices about what you eat. There has been a lot of news this year about GLP1 receptor agonists as a treatment for obesity.

And to be sure, this new class of medications has, in a very short period of time, completely

revolutionized not only how we treat obesity,

but even how we think about it. And with all of that buzz, it's easy to lose sight of the fact

that these medications were originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.

So today, in recognition of Diabetes Awareness Month, I'd like to take a closer look at how these medications have impacted how we think about

and treat type 2 diabetes and the impact that they have had on individuals with this condition.

Now, Diabetes Awareness Month covers all forms of diabetes, including type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune condition, and gestational diabetes,

which affects pregnant women. And we won't be talking about those other types of diabetes today,

because GLPs have not been

approved for use in those conditions. But you will find educational and advocacy resources for all

types of diabetes at the American Diabetes Organization website, that's at diabetes.org,

as well as the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and

kidney diseases. And we'll put links to both of those in the show notes for today.

Before the advent of these GLP1 receptor agonists, metformin was generally the first-line

treatment for type 2 diabetes, and this is still the standard practice. Metformin was generally the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, and this is still the standard

practice. Metformin works by reducing glucose production in the liver and also by improving

insulin sensitivity, and it's a very effective medication and quite inexpensive, often just a few

dollars per month. And the main side effects are

gastrointestinal issues that usually resolve over time. But if metformin alone didn't do the

...