From the Guidelines
The average length of use for GLP-1 medications in patients with Type 2 diabetes is typically long-term, often continuing for many years or indefinitely as part of ongoing diabetes management. Common GLP-1 receptor agonists include semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus), dulaglutide (Trulicity), liraglutide (Victoza), and exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon) 1. These medications are generally prescribed as continuous therapy rather than for a fixed duration, with patients remaining on them as long as they provide good glycemic control and are well-tolerated.
Key Points
- Dosing varies by specific medication - for example, semaglutide is typically administered once weekly starting at 0.25mg and titrating up to 0.5-2.0mg, while oral semaglutide starts at 3mg daily and increases to 7-14mg daily.
- Treatment persistence varies significantly among patients, with real-world data suggesting many continue therapy for 1-2 years, though ideally patients would remain on effective therapy much longer.
- GLP-1 medications work by stimulating insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon release, slowing gastric emptying, and reducing appetite, providing sustained benefits for blood glucose control and often weight management, which supports their long-term use in diabetes management 1.
Clinical Considerations
The decision to continue or discontinue GLP-1 medication should be based on individual patient factors, including efficacy, tolerability, and presence of cardiovascular disease or other comorbidities. As evidenced by the LEADER trial and other studies, GLP-1 receptor agonists have been shown to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease 1. Therefore, continuation of GLP-1 medication is recommended for patients who tolerate the medication and have a reduction in cardiovascular risk.
From the Research
Average Length of Use of GLP1 Medication
- The average length of use of a GLP1 medication for patients with Type 2 Diabetes is not directly stated in the provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Treatment Duration and Adherence
- A study from 2021 found that injectable GLP-1RAs dosed once weekly were associated with an 11% lower risk of non-adherence compared to once daily dosing 4.
- The same study reported that the follow-up periods of included studies ranged from 6 to 12 months, but did not provide information on the average length of use 4.
GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Initiation
- A study from 2019 reported that the median time from T2DM diagnosis to GLP-1 RA initiation was 6.1 years, and the median consecutive time patients taking oral regimens were not under glycaemic control prior to GLP-1 RA initiation was 13.5 months 3.