WELLNESS EDIT | No. 25 |
Diabetes
GLP-1 medications reduce appetite, improve blood sugar regulation, and can produce significant weight loss for many people. However, the speed at which these medications have entered mainstream use has created a gap, not in access, but in understanding.
Many people begin treatment without fully exploring:
- what drives their blood sugar patterns in the first place
- how lifestyle factors contribute to insulin resistance
- what long-term maintenance looks like
- what happens if the medication is reduced or stopped
The medication often becomes the plan before the metabolic picture is fully understood.
It’s important to know with rapid weight loss on GLP-1 medications, a proportion of the weight lost can include lean body mass (including muscle), not just fat. The exact amount varies depending on protein intake, resistance training, and overall lifestyle.
When people come off GLP-1 medications, many notice a shift in how they think about food. The constant background thoughts about eating, often referred to as “food noise” can start to return. This is where you should stop and consider the bigger picture, are you using medication as part of a long-term metabolic plan, or as a short-term solution without the habits needed to maintain results after stopping? Without that foundation, transitioning back to natural appetite regulation and weight management will be much more challenging.
Understanding how Pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are diagnosed
I’ve seen an increasing number of people receive a diagnosis of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes and quickly find themselves discussing GLP-1 medications. Yet many leave these conversations without a clear understanding of their test results, what the diagnosis actually means, or what steps they can take to improve their health.
A slightly elevated A1C. A borderline fasting glucose. A routine conversation about weight. More often than not, the discussion quickly turns to medication, particularly GLP-1 drugs. Sometimes the recommendation comes from the physician. Just as often, it comes from the patient, hopeful that a weight-loss injection might finally help lose the 20 pounds that seem impossible to budge.
Type 2 diabetes is a very real metabolic disease with serious long-term health consequences if left unmanaged. People deserve clear, accurate information before labeling themselves as “diabetic” for life or deciding to begin medications that can carry significant side effects.
What is concerning is that many people arrive at consultations unable to explain which tests were performed, what their results actually mean, or why a diagnosis was made in the first place. Others leave the healthcare system with a new diagnosis but little practical guidance on what steps to take next. Understanding the numbers, the diagnostic criteria, and the available treatment options is an essential first step toward making informed decisions about long-term health.
Three common tests used to diagnose Pre-diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.
Clinicians rely on a small set of laboratory markers taken at one point in time to make a diagnosis. Stress, illness, sleep deprivation, medications, inflammation, anemia, hormonal changes, and lab variability all affect those results.
1. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c)
An A1C test measures your average blood glucose levels over the past 2–3 months, showing how well your body has been managing blood sugar over time.
General cutoffs:
- Normal: below 5.7%
- Prediabetes: 5.7%–6.4%
- Diabetes: 6.5% or higher
But here’s what many people do not realize:
An A1C is not a perfect test.
Certain conditions can falsely raise or lower results, including:
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Pregnancy
- Certain medications
- Supplements
- Recent illness
2. Fasting Blood Glucose
This measures blood sugar after an overnight fast (at least 8-hours)
General cutoffs:
- Normal: below 100 mg/dL
- Prediabetes: 100–125 mg/dL
- Diabetes: 126 mg/dL or higher
One elevated fasting glucose does not always tell the whole story.
3. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
The OGTT is a two-hour test that checks your blood glucose levels before and two hours after you drink a sweet drink. It shows how your body is processing sugar.
2-Hour Blood Sugar Test Results
Normal: below 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL)
Prediabetes (Impaired Glucose Tolerance): 7.8 – 11.0 mmol/L (140 – 199 mg/dL)
Diabetes: 11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) or higher
It’s Important to remember that poor sleep, stress hormones, illness, corticosteroids, alcohol intake, and even anxiety can temporarily affect blood sugar.
Results pointing to Pre-diabetes
- An A1C of 5.7–6.4%
- Fasting blood glucose of 100–125 mg/dL
- An OGTT two-hour blood glucose of 140–199 mg/dL
The Important Part Many People Miss
A Diabetes diagnosis generally requires:
- Two abnormal test results
OR - One abnormal result plus symptoms of diabetes
Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination (especially at night)
- Increased hunger
- Unexplained weight loss (more common in Type 1, sometimes Type 2)
- Fatigue or low energy
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing cuts or wounds
- Frequent infections (such as skin, gum, or urinary tract infections)
- Tingling or numbness in hands or feet (more common over time in Type 2)
Many people walk away from a single borderline lab value believing they are permanently “diabetic.”
That label can carry enormous emotional weight.
Pre-diabetes Does Not Mean You Are “Doomed”
This is critical.
Prediabetes is not a guarantee that someone will develop type 2 diabetes.
In many cases, blood sugar markers improve significantly through:
- Weight loss
- Increased muscle mass
- Improved sleep
- Better nutrition
- Stress management
- Increased physical activity
- Reduced ultra-processed food intake
The GLP-1 Conversation
There is no question that GLP-1 medications have become a major force in medicine, weight loss culture, and social media.
For some individuals, these medications can be life-changing and medically appropriate.
But there is also growing concern that people are being rushed into treatment conversations without fully understanding:
- Their actual laboratory data
- Their metabolic health
- Their nutrition habits
- Their long-term plan
Blood sugar is only one piece of the picture
Good metabolic health is about more than a single lab value.
It includes:
- Muscle mass
- Sleep quality
- Stress levels
- Waist circumference
- Nutrition quality
- Exercise
- Inflammation
- Insulin sensitivity
- Emotional relationship with food
A person can have a “normal” A1C and still have poor metabolic health habits.
And someone with mild insulin resistance is not automatically “sick beyond repair.”
Questions To Ask Your Healthcare Provider
- What specific test was abnormal?
- Was the test repeated?
- Could anything have influenced the result?
- What are my fasting insulin and triglycerides?
- What lifestyle factors should I address first?
- What role does muscle mass play?
- What are the risks and benefits of medication?
- What happens long-term?
- Can I have copies of all of my test results? (It’s normal in the U.S, however not so much in the UK)
Understanding your numbers is empowering.
Understanding your numbers is empowering. Blood test results can provide valuable insights into your health, but they can also be confusing when presented without context. Knowing what your results mean, and what they do not mean, can help you ask informed questions, make confident decisions, and take an active role in your health.
The Bottom Line
A diagnosis should not automatically fast-track GLP-1 therapy without a clear understanding of long-term metabolic needs, potential side effects, and the reality of what happens when treatment stops. This includes not only physical considerations, but also the psychological adjustment that can come when appetite regulation changes and people return to navigating hunger, cravings, and food thoughts without medication support.
For some, this transition can feel more challenging if underlying habits, mindset, and daily structures haven’t been built alongside treatment. Before focusing only on fitting into a dress or a pair of jeans, it helps to pause and consider the bigger picture, because lasting change is never just about a quick fix, but about the habits, mindset, and daily choices that support your body over time. Some people do need medication, and GLP-1s can play an important role in treatment. At the same time, many cases of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes can improve significantly with sustained changes in nutrition, exercise, stress, and lifestyle habits, especially when addressed early.
Always do your own research and ask for copies of your blood work, you are entitled to them. Take time to understand your results, and have open conversations with your healthcare provider before starting any medication. Consider whether there are supportive lifestyle changes you can build alongside medical care to help you feel your best. It’s not always easy, but small, consistent steps can make a meaningful difference over time.
