Weight-loss medications, now widely popular, originated as diabetes treatments. A new study confirms their continued efficacy in preventing this chronic illness.
Eli Lilly, manufacturer of tirzepatide (marketed as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss), recently unveiled findings from its most extensive tirzepatide study. The results demonstrate that the drug significantly reduced the risk of prediabetes progressing to diabetes by 94% compared to placebo.
The study, spanning nearly three years, included over 1,000 participants who were overweight or obese and had prediabetes. By the study’s conclusion, those receiving any of the three tirzepatide doses achieved up to a 20% decrease in body mass from the initial measurement, compared to those taking a placebo. Additionally, the drug contributed to a 94% lower chance of developing diabetes from prediabetes compared to placebo.
Tirzepatide targets two appetite and weight-related hormones: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). For individuals with diabetes, the weekly injectable medication helps regulate glucose levels before and after meals, leading to weight loss and, consequently, improved blood sugar control. The study underscores that individuals at high risk for diabetes can utilize the drug to optimize their blood sugar metabolism and prevent the development of the condition.
“Currently, there are no medications approved for treating prediabetes,” states Dr. Michael Weintraub, clinical associate professor of endocrinology at NYU Langone Health, who was not involved in the study. The availability of such a medication could empower doctors to intervene earlier in patients at risk for diabetes, he suggests, potentially preventing not only the chronic condition but also associated health issues. “If we can intervene earlier and address underlying obesity before it leads to Type 2 diabetes or other complications, we can reduce the overall risk of cardiovascular disease, the primary cause of death among individuals with obesity.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 88 million Americans have prediabetes, with many unaware of their condition. Although rates vary, roughly 15% of those with prediabetes will progress to diabetes annually. Obesity or being overweight significantly increases the risk of developing diabetes. This latest study focuses on this population and demonstrates the potential of medication to mitigate this risk.
The findings expand upon previously released results in 2022 in the New England Journal of Medicine, which focused on weight loss in the same population after a one-year follow-up. However, the extended duration of the current study enabled doctors to monitor patients’ diabetes progression.
Weintraub posits that tirzepatide may contribute to reducing the likelihood of developing diabetes through several mechanisms: controlling weight, boosting insulin production for blood sugar management, and addressing inflammation, which can lead to insulin resistance and less efficient blood sugar control in the body.
Further research is necessary to determine the optimal duration of tirzepatide treatment and the persistence of its diabetes-prevention benefits. In the study, patients discontinuing tirzepatide for 17 weeks experienced weight regain, and their risk of developing diabetes decreased slightly to 88% compared to the 94% reduction observed among those continuing the medication.
While the results are not surprising, they offer reassurance to overweight individuals seeking to mitigate their diabetes risk.