GLP-1 agonists are a class of medications, such as Ozempic, that mainly help manage blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Some GLP-1 agonists can also help treat obesity. GLP-1 agonists are most often injectable medications.
How Does GLP-1 Work
GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone that your small intestine makes which triggers insulin release from your pancreas, prevents glucose from going into your bloodstream, slows digestion and increases how full you feel after eating.
GLP-1 agonist medications mimic this hormone.
GLP-1 For Type 2 Diabetes
If you have Type 2 diabetes, the medications help to better manage your blood sugar.
GLP-1 receptor agonist medications help lower blood sugar levels by boosting the amount of insulin your body releases when blood sugar is high. They also reduce the amount of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar, which helps keep blood sugar levels more stable.
These medications improve how your body uses insulin. By increasing insulin sensitivity, your cells become better at taking in glucose from your blood, which helps lower blood sugar levels.
GLP-1 For Weight Loss
GLP-1 receptor agonists help with weight loss in a couple of ways. They slow down how quickly food leaves your stomach, making you feel full longer. They also act on the brain to reduce appetite, so you feel less hungry and eat less.
Side Effects of Using GLP-1 Medications
Most Common:
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Other side effects can include:
- Dizziness
- Mild tachycardia (increased heart rate)
- Infections
- Headaches
- Indigestion (upset stomach)
Severe — but rare — side effects can include:
- Pancreatitis.
- Medullary thyroid cancer
- Acute (sudden) kidney injury.
- Worsening diabetes-related retinopathy
Nutritional Challenges For Those On GLP-1 Medications
We polled the dietitian’s and healthcare professionals who trust Cronometer Pro to help manage clients within their practice. The most common challenges they face with clients who are on GLP-1 medications include, but certainly are not limited to:
- Under-eating
- Vitamin or mineral deficiencies
- Loss of muscle mass
How Cronometer Can Help Manage Symptoms and Reduce Risks Associated With GLP-1 Medications
Make sure you’re eating enough
A reduced appetite can result in under-eating which could eventually lead to malnourishment. So, while on GLP-1 medications, it’s important to make sure your daily caloric intake remains at a healthy level.
Cronometer can help to make sure you’re doing just that. By logging the food that you eat into the app, you’ll get an accurate picture of how many calories you’ve eaten that day, helping you to assess if you’re eating enough or if you should increase your intake.
If you’re wondering what a healthy caloric intake looks like, that is unique to each individual. When signing up for Cronometer, we’ll ask you some basic questions and give a recommendation, but for those on GLP-1 medications, it’s best to ask your doctor as they’ll have a better picture of your needs.
Make sure you’re getting a balanced diet
Eating less can sometimes make it difficult to get all the nutrients your body needs. To avoid malnutrition or a vitamin or mineral deficiency, eating a well-balanced diet is pivotal.
With in-depth macro and micronutrient tracking, Cronometer will help make sure you’re giving your body what it needs to thrive. By logging the food that you eat into the app, you’ll get a detailed breakdown of not only proteins, fats and carbs but up to 84 nutrients including vitamins and minerals like fiber and magnesium.
Make sure you’re getting enough protein
Something that was a top concern for our professionals who manage clients on GLP-1 medications was loss of muscle mass. To support your muscles, it’s important to eat enough protein, which can be hard with a reduced appetite.
With Cronometer, you’ll know exactly how much protein you’re eating and can adjust your diet accordingly to make sure you’re getting enough.
If you’re wondering how much protein you need to eat, the recommended minimum amount per day is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight but for those on GLP-1 medications, it’s best to ask your doctor.
Monitor symptoms & side effects
By logging biometrics like energy level, stool or sleep quality into Cronometer, it’s easy to see how your body is being affected by your medications.
Track your symptoms over time to identify trends and potential red flags.
We have a ton of existing biometrics in the app but by upgrading to our Gold subscription, you are able to create Custom Biometrics, which unlocks limitless possibilities for symptom tracking.
Timestamps are another Cronometer Gold feature that can help with tracking symptoms. By diligently recording what you eat and when you experience symptoms, you can identify patterns and correlations that help you understand how different foods affect your body.
For example, if you experience nausea or diarrhea, you can review your Diary to see what foods you ate and when. By analyzing this information, you can identify specific foods or combinations of foods that may be triggering your symptoms, helping you to avoid these in the future and make more informed dietary choices to minimize discomfort.
Similarly, logging when you feel good can be just as valuable. By tracking your food intake and noting when you feel healthy and symptom-free, you can identify foods and eating patterns that support your well-being.
This information is particularly useful when you are on GLP-1 agonist medications, which can affect your appetite and digestion. By understanding which foods and eating schedules work best, you can optimize your diet to complement your medication and improve your overall health.
Track dosages
With our Gold subscription, you can create a Custom Biometric to track your dosing of GLP-1. Then, you’ll be able to cross-reference against your calorie intake or symptoms to help identify trends and manage your diet during the course of your medication.
Get suggestions on what to eat
With our Gold subscription, you’ll gain access to our Food Suggestions feature which will give recommendations of what to eat to help hit your nutrition targets.
Set up Reminders
Cronometer can help remind you to eat with Reminders. Just set the times you want to be reminded and we’ll do the rest!
Avoid gaining weight when coming off GLP-1
As you transition off your GLP-1 medication, your hunger may increase. Using Cronometer throughout this process will help you avoid any unwanted weight gain.
In Conclusion
GLP-1 medications have increased in popularity recently and the benefits are clear, but they often come paired with certain risk factors. We’ve covered a few of these risks above, and can help to mitigate some of the nutritional side-effects of being on this medication, but it’s important to talk to your doctor to get the full picture.
In essence, the detailed logging capabilities of Cronometer allow you to make data-driven decisions about your diet, helping you manage symptoms more effectively and maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Sign up for a free Cronometer account here to get started.
