GLP-1 receptor agonist
A class of medications, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, that lower glucose and appetite by mimicking a gut hormone.
GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone the gut releases after eating. They prompt the pancreas to release insulin when glucose is high, lower the glucagon signal that raises it, slow how fast the stomach empties, and reduce appetite. Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) is a GLP-1; tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) adds a second incretin, GIP.
Because they raise insulin mainly when glucose is already elevated, they rarely cause lows on their own. Many people see both their average glucose and their weight drift down over weeks as the dose is increased. Doses usually start low and step up on a schedule to limit the digestive side effects that are most common early on. This is general information, not a treatment recommendation.