What is Trulicity?
Trulicity is a pre-filled injection treatment for type-2 diabetes. Its active ingredient, dulaglutide, belongs to a group of medicines called GLP-1 agonists, which work to lower your blood sugar and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Research has also indicated that they can help with weight loss, although Trulicity isn’t licensed for this purpose.
While some other injection treatments for type-2 diabetes need to be injected daily, Trulicity is a once a week treatment. So rather than having to plan around taking it daily, you’re free to spend the rest of the week however you want to.
How does Trulicity work?
Type-2 diabetes is a condition that’s usually developed in adulthood, often because your pancreas doesn’t produce as much insulin (a hormone that helps you process sugar) as it should, or because your cells have become less sensitive to insulin. This can lead to concentrations of sugar in your bloodstream that are too high, which can cause you long-term health problems.
Trulicity works to reduce the high blood sugar levels caused by type-2 diabetes by mimicking the action of a hormone that encourages your pancreas to secrete insulin. The higher levels of insulin in your blood then help to move the sugar from your bloodstream into your cells for it to be used as energy.
Being overweight or obese can be risk factors for diabetes, and obesity and diabetes often go hand in hand. It isn’t fully known how GLP-1 agonists support weight loss, but it’s thought that they reduce your appetite and delay the emptying of your stomach which can make you feel less hungry and eat less.
What doses of Trulicity are there?
Trulicity is available in four doses: 0.75mg, 1.5mg, 3mg and 4.5mg solutions for injection in pre-filled pens. The dose that you’re prescribed will depend on your individual health needs. You’ll probably start on a dose of either 0.75mg or 1.5mg once a week to start off with, which can be increased to 3mg or 4.5mg if your HbA1c (the test of your blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months) doesn’t seem to be dropping down to your target level.