Patients with type 2 diabetes and IBD who are taking GLP-1 agonists or DPP-4 inhibitors may be at a lower risk for adverse clinical outcomes as a result of IBD.
GLP-1 Agonists are a class of medication that can help manage diabetes and help you lose up to 15% of your weight. Particularly prescribed to diabetic patients that are also obese, these medications include Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Trulicity, Saxenda, and others! These medicines significantly improve the glycemic parameters and effectively reduce body weight. The elements work by activating GLP-1 receptors in the pancreas, which leads to better and enhanced insulin release in the blood. As a result, the glucagon level also reduces, regulating the blood sugar level. Let’s find out how these medicines help with Inflammatory Bowel Disease!
Are these medications safe to take for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, like Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis? In fact, they can help patients with these conditions!
You may be familiar with GLP-1 agonists for their ability to help manage diabetes and weight loss, but did you know they may also help patients who have inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)? IBD is a group of disorders that include conditions like Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
These symptoms may come and go, and are not consistent. But patients, more or less, experience these symptoms in the case of IBD.
IBD is diagnosed by a Gastroenterologist or “GI doctor”. Testing can involve many components including
The doctor may advice colonoscopy as part of the ongoing monitoring of your IBD to check your inflammation levels and any signs of bowel cancer. This procedure is vital to prepare for any other severe health risks and consequences that may rise due to IBD.
IBD treatment can vary patient to patient and depends on the severity of disease. The treatment also depends on the severity of your symptoms and your medical history. It is vital to consult doctors and share your medical history, current medication, and active allergies before starting any kind of treatment. However, some common treatments can include:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/inflammatory-bowel-disease
A recent study in Denmark showed that GLP-1 agonists may improve the disease course of IBD. This study was done in patients who had both Type 2 Diabetes and IBD and observed clinical outcomes in patients who were taking GLP-1 agonist or DPP-4 inhibitors, another type of glucose-lowering medication. Based on previous studies done in mice, researchers observed that GLP-1 agonists/DPP-4 inhibitors work to reduce inflammation in the gut, so they proposed that the same mechanism may occur in humans.
Based on this study, patients with type 2 diabetes and IBD who are taking GLP-1 agonists or DPP-4 inhibitors may be at a lower risk for adverse clinical outcomes as a result of IBD.
Dr. Eva Shelton, M.D.
Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital