Is dulaglutide insulin?
Disease description:
Hello, I am a diabetes patient and would like to know if dulaglutide is insulin?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Dulaglutide is not insulin; it is a synthetic glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It is a completely different substance from insulin and has a distinct mechanism of action.
1. Drug characteristics: Dulaglutide is a peptide-based antidiabetic medication, whereas insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to lower blood glucose levels.
2. Indications: Under a physician's guidance, dulaglutide can be taken in combination with other antidiabetic medications and has demonstrated effective blood glucose-lowering effects in patients with type 2 diabetes.
3. Mechanism of action: Insulin is a hormone that directly lowers blood glucose levels. Dulaglutide primarily works by mimicking the natural hormone GLP-1 in the body, stimulating insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells and inhibiting glucagon secretion, thereby reducing blood glucose levels.
Therefore, both dulaglutide and insulin are medications used in the treatment of diabetes, but they differ in their mechanisms of action and properties. They should be used rationally under the guidance of a physician.
