GLP-1 receptor agonists are changing the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Few drug classes have moved so quickly from specialist prescribing into everyday conversation. Patients now arrive at clinic having read about GLP-1 medications in the media, seen them online or watched someone they know lose a substantial amount of weight while taking them. Much of the public conversation is about weight loss. In type 2 diabetes, however, the clinical conversation needs to be wider. Cardiovascular and renal risk, glycaemic control, tolerability and safety all matter, and the evidence has moved considerably over the past 18 months.