GLP-1 Drugs May Pose Serious Risks for Type 1 Diabetes Patients, Study Finds

GLP-1 Drugs May Pose Serious Risks for Type 1 Diabetes Patients, Study Finds

Use Rising Among Type 1 Patients Despite Lack of Approval

New research is raising concerns over the safety of GLP-1 receptor agonists—a class of drugs widely prescribed for Type 2 diabetes and obesity—when used by individuals with Type 1 diabetes.

According to Dr. Doug Chen of Johns Hopkins University, an increasing number of adults and children with Type 1 diabetes are using these medications off-label, even though they are not FDA-approved for Type 1.

Type 1 Diabetes and Rising Obesity

Type 1 diabetes affects approximately 2 million Americans, resulting from the pancreas’s inability to produce insulin. Once commonly associated with lean body types, doctors are now seeing a rise in obesity among this population, leading some to seek the weight-loss benefits of GLP-1 drugs.

However, combining GLP-1 medications with insulin therapy may introduce new risks.

Potential Risks: Hypoglycemia and Ketoacidosis

Dr. Chen’s research warns that using GLP-1 drugs alongside insulin could increase the risk of hypoglycemia—dangerously low blood sugar levels—as well as ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening buildup of acid in the blood.

“While there may be benefits, we’re seeing clear red flags,” Chen stated. “These medications were not designed with Type 1 physiology in mind.”

Experts Call for Clinical Trials and FDA Guidance

Chen and his team are now calling for formal clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of GLP-1 drugs in Type 1 patients, and for the FDA to provide updated guidelines as off-label use becomes more common.

Until such guidance is available, healthcare providers are urged to closely monitor patients and thoroughly discuss potential risks and benefits before prescribing GLP-1s to anyone with Type 1 diabetes.

Learn More and Talk to Your Doctor

If you or a loved one has Type 1 diabetes and is considering GLP-1 medications:

• Speak with your endocrinologist or primary care physician.
• Monitor blood glucose levels closely.
• Be alert for signs of hypoglycemia (shaking, confusion, fainting) or ketoacidosis (nausea, rapid breathing, fatigue).

For more information, visit:

• FDA Medication Guidelines: https://www.fda.gov
• American Diabetes Association: https://www.diabetes.org
• Johns Hopkins Medicine Diabetes Center: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/diabetes

Stay tuned to Fox News for ongoing updates on this developing medical issue.