Diseases & Conditions

What’s new in diabetes drugs

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch

Two classes of drugs have gotten much attention lately.

Watch TV lately, and you may have noticed a slew of advertisements for two classes of diabetes drugs — GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors. Why are these medications being marketed so heavily? Sure, these new drugs add significant revenue to pharmaceutical companies. But they also offer health benefits beyond just keeping blood sugar levels controlled.

Growing problem

Type 2 diabetes (by far the most common type) remains a serious health risk for many Americans, especially older adults. About 34.2 million adults have type 2 diabetes, according to the CDC. Based on current trends, the CDC predicts that one in five American adults will have diabetes by 2025, and the number could reach one in three by 2050.

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About the Author

photo of Matthew Solan

Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch

Matthew Solan is the executive editor of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. He previously served as executive editor for UCLA Health’s Healthy Years and as a contributor to Duke Medicine’s Health News and Weill Cornell Medical College’s … See Full Bio
View all posts by Matthew Solan

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