Which medication class is commonly used in type 2 diabetes to improve glycemic control and promote weight loss by slowing gastric emptying and reducing glucagon?

• A. GLP-1 receptor agonists
• B. DPP-4 inhibitors
• C. SGLT2 inhibitors
• D. Insulin

Answer: (A)

GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic the action of the gut hormone GLP-1, which helps control blood sugar in several ways that are particularly beneficial in type 2 diabetes. They boost insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, meaning they work best when blood glucose is high, and they suppress glucagon when it’s elevated after meals. A distinctive feature is that they slow gastric emptying, which blunts post-meal glucose spikes, and they also reduce appetite, leading to weight loss. This combination—better glycemic control with weight loss—fits the described effect.

Other classes don’t combine these exact effects: DPP-4 inhibitors raise endogenous GLP-1 but have less impact on gastric emptying and are typically weight-neutral; SGLT2 inhibitors promote weight loss through calorie loss in the urine but don’t slow gastric emptying or suppress glucagon; insulin improves glucose levels but often leads to weight gain and doesn’t slow gastric emptying.