How GLP-1 medications can help you manage diabetes
September 16, 2025By: Melissa Zalonis
Categories: Diabetes
You’ve seen the headlines. Heard the chatter. Maybe even wondered if GLP-1 medications are just another passing trend. But for people living with type 2 diabetes, these medications could offer more than symptom control; they can help reduce risk factors and support long-term health.
But what exactly are GLP-1s?
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, a natural hormone made in your gut. The fundamental function of GLP-1 is to boost the amount of insulin our bodies make to keep our blood sugar within a normal range. It plays a key role in how your body processes food and manages blood sugar. After you eat, GLP-1 helps:
- Stimulate the release of insulin
- Slow down how quickly food leaves your stomach
- Reduce appetite and increase feelings of fullness
When GLP-1 doesn’t work as well, something common in individuals with type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 receptor agonists can step in to help. These receptor agonists mimic the natural GLP-1 hormone’s actions to help restore balance and improve metabolic control. Individuals using GLP-1 receptor agonists often:
- Feel more satisfied during and between meals
- Maintain better control over their blood sugar
- Notice a decrease in food-related cravings and preoccupations
Originally developed to help control blood sugar, for some, these medications have also shown other powerful benefits, including:
- Weight loss
- Improved heart health
- Better sleep quality
- Enhanced skin health
What does this mean for your management of diabetes?
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body may struggle to manage blood sugar due to slower or impaired natural processes. GLP-1 medications are hormones that can help restore some of that lost function by improving how your body responds to food, boosting insulin production and stabilizing blood sugar levels.
In other words, GLP-1 receptor agonists can help you manage symptoms of diabetes so you can focus on the things that matter most. For many people, these medications can mean fewer blood sugar spikes and crashes, less reliance on insulin and more support for weight management.
Rethinking what’s possible with type 2 diabetes
Living with Type 2 diabetes can feel like walking a tightrope. You may feel overwhelmed from trying to balance meals, medications and blood glucose. That can leave you feeling stuck, rather than seeing real progress in your health.
However, that’s beginning to change.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are opening doors that once felt closed. These aren’t quick fixes, but powerful tools that work with your body to create lasting change, helping you not just manage diabetes, but thrive with it.
These medications might just be the answers you’ve been searching for. Not just in how they manage your diabetes, but in how they can empower you to feel stronger, more in control and more hopeful about what’s ahead.
Is a GLP-1 medication right for you?
At NKC Health, we see firsthand how diabetes can affect your life. We understand the challenges from daily blood sugar checks to concerns about long-term complications. However, diabetes care isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. GLP-1 medications are an exciting option, but they’re not for everyone. Like any medication, they can cause side effects, including:
- Acid reflux
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Fatigue
- Injection site reaction
Your NKC Health care team and primary care physician are here to help you weigh the benefits and risks, so you can decide what’s best for your body and accomplish your health goals. If you feel like trying GLP-1 medications to help you manage your diabetes, talk to your provider about:
- Your current medications
- Kidney and thyroid health
- Insurance coverage and cost
Looking ahead
As research continues, your diabetes care team at NKC Health is here to find what works for you, so you can live a full, healthy life with diabetes. While GLP-1 receptor agonists may play a role in treating other conditions like fatty liver disease and even Alzheimer’s, for now, they’re a powerful tool in the diabetes management toolkit, and one worth exploring. Because living with diabetes shouldn’t mean just getting by. It should mean living well.
