Hormonal
Tirzepatide provides clinically meaningful HbA1c reduction and dose-proportional weight loss in older adults (≥65 years) with type 2 diabetes who do not have obesity (BMI < 30 kg/m2), without increasing hypoglycemic risk compared to the general population.
If you are over 65 and have type 2 diabetes but are not obese (BMI under 30), tirzepatide is a viable treatment option. It effectively lowers blood sugar and promotes weight loss without increasing the risk of dangerous low blood sugar, provided you are not already on insulin or sulfonylureas. Be aware that gastrointestinal side effects are common, but generally mild, and discontinuation rates due to side effects are slightly higher in this group than in the general population.
Tirzepatide may be an effective treatment for older adults without obesity, and in this post hoc analysis, it was associated with clinically relevant HbA1c reduction and dose-proportional weight loss without increasing hypoglycemic risk.
Why this rating
Post hoc analysis of pooled Phase 3 randomized controlled trials (n=542 in subgroup).
Source
Tirzepatide for Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes and Without Obesity: A Post Hoc Analysis of the SURPASS Clinical Trials
Neda Rasouli et al. · Diabetes Therapy · 2025
DOI 10.1007/s13300-025-01711-0
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