Hormonal
Short-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists (exenatide twice daily, lixisenatide) produce greater reductions in postprandial glucose than long-acting agents (liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide once weekly) due to delayed gastric emptying, whereas long-acting agents provide superior fasting glucose control.
If you struggle with blood sugar spikes after meals, short-acting GLP-1 drugs (taken twice daily or before meals) may work better for you. If your main issue is high fasting blood sugar in the morning, long-acting GLP-1 drugs (taken once daily or weekly) are likely more effective. Discuss these options with your doctor to match the drug's mechanism to your specific glucose pattern.
As the short-acting GLP-1RAs delay gastric emptying, they have greater effects on postprandial glucose levels than the longer-acting agents, whereas the longer-acting compounds reduced plasma glucose throughout the 24-h period studied.
Why this rating
Based on a review of nine phase III head-to-head trials and one phase II study.
Source
Review of head‐to‐head comparisons of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists
Sten Madsbad · Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism · 2015
DOI 10.1111/dom.12596
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