Less Common but Serious Side Effects Some less common but more serious GLP-1 side effects are worth being aware of: Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) Gallbladder problems (including gallstones) Acute kidney injury (usually as a result of severe dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea) Diabetic retinopathy worsening (particularly in patients with rapid improvement in blood sugar control) Hypoglycemia (when combined with other diabetes medications like sulfonylureas or insulin) All GLP-1 medications also carry a warning regarding a theoretical risk of medullary thyroid carcinoma, based on animal studies
Keep a symptom log Record the symptom, its severity, when it occurred relative to medication administration or a clinician-directed medication change, foods eaten, bowel changes, and whether you could drink normally
NICE guidance on diabetes management (NG28) emphasises the importance of supporting patients through adverse effects to optimise treatment adherence and outcomes
Researchers are testing new formulas that might help reduce some of the unwanted side effects
Does It Matter Where You Inject GLP-1 Medications
While there are short-term benefits, including better blood sugar control and lower blood pressure and inflammation, It is important to recognize the value of things like physical activity, aerobic exercise, strength training and so on, he said