GLP-1 agonist medicines
Each card is one question. Open it to see what published guidance says and what to ask next.
What makes GLP-1 agonists worth a second look
GLP-1 agonist medicines come up often in conversations about diabetes and weight. The questions below are the ones to put to whoever is recommending one, so you can weigh the answer instead of just accepting it.
Two plain-language references help with the vocabulary. Read the Cleveland Clinic guide to GLP-1 agonists, how they work and their side effects. MedlinePlus has drug information on semaglutide injection, one medicine you may hear named. Read both with the question list below open next to them.
Six questions about GLP-1 agonists
Each question has its own page.
- Can I take a GLP-1 agonist if I have Type 1 diabetes?
- What does the dosing schedule for a GLP-1 agonist look like?
- What exactly is a GLP-1 agonist?
- What are the potential benefits of GLP-1 agonists?
- At what point would a clinician reach for a GLP-1 agonist?
- What is a GLP-1 agonist doing in the body?
What to ask before starting or continuing one
Before you start, or before you decide to keep going, ask your clinician:
- Why this medicine for me, and what else did you consider?
- What do the published guidelines say about my situation, and where do they leave room for judgment?
- How will we measure whether it helps, and when do we review the decision?
- What are the side effects I should plan for, and what would make us stop?
- How does it interact with my other medicines and conditions?
Questions like these are for testing a GLP-1 agonist recommendation, so do not start or stop a medicine because of what you read here.