The GLP-1 Prescription Shift: Are Diabetes Patients at Risk?

A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that more people without diabetes are being prescribed GLP-1 medications, while the number of new prescriptions for individuals with diabetes has declined. The researchers highlight potential concerns regarding shortages of these treatments.

GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite, were initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes. In 2021, the FDA extended the authorization for Wegovy, a GLP-1 treatment, for weight loss purposes.

Following this approval, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in producing enough GLP-1 medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, to meet the growing demand.

Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other organizations analyzed the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited doctors between 2011 and 2023. They found that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023. Conversely, the share of new GLP-1 users without type 2 diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.

Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that this trend indicates a significant public health shift as more healthcare providers recognize the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment. Nonetheless, it raises concerns about maintaining access to these treatments for diabetes patients.

The data used in the study came from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, and may not fully represent national trends.

In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have surged in popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, with users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight.

This booming demand has led to Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk becoming some of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies. However, this increased demand has made it difficult for certain patients to obtain their prescriptions. To address this, both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have invested billions in enhancing their production capacities.

According to Morgan Stanley analysts, the global market for GLP-1 drugs is projected to reach $105 billion by 2030. They also estimate that by 2035, around 31.5 million people in the U.S., or about 9% of the population, will be using these medications.

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