Two generic GLP-1 medication injector pens on a white background with a measuring tape, symbolizing weight loss and hormone health management Island Welness Clinic

GLP-1 Medications: What’s the Difference and Why They’re About More Than Weight Loss

If you’ve been hearing about GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Trulicity, you’re not alone. These medications are making headlines for their role in weight loss—but the story doesn’t stop there. At Island Wellness Clinic, we want you to know the full picture: GLP-1s were originally designed to help with blood sugar management, and they come with a range of health benefits that go far beyond the number on the scale (National Kidney Foundation, 2024).

What Are GLP-1s?

GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. In simple terms, these medications mimic a natural hormone in your body that helps regulate blood sugar, appetite, and digestion. They slow down how quickly food leaves your stomach, improve insulin response, and reduce cravings (National Kidney Foundation, 2024).

The Big Three: Key Differences

Ozempic® (semaglutide)

  • FDA-approved for: Type 2 diabetes (often used off-label for weight management).

  • How it works: Taken once weekly, it lowers blood sugar and reduces appetite.

  • Unique point: Strong clinical evidence shows it reduces cardiovascular risks and slows kidney disease progression in people with Type 2 diabetes (Kommu et al., 2024; Novo Nordisk, 2025).

Mounjaro™ (tirzepatide)

  • FDA-approved for: Type 2 diabetes (weight loss approval anticipated soon).

  • How it works: A dual agonist—it targets two hormones (GLP-1 and GIP), which may provide greater effects on blood sugar and appetite than GLP-1 alone.

  • Unique point: Clinical trials show tirzepatide provides significant weight reduction and improvements in cardiovascular outcomes compared with other GLP-1s (Chuang et al., 2024; Eli Lilly and Company, 2025).

Trulicity® (dulaglutide)

  • FDA-approved for: Type 2 diabetes.

  • How it works: Another once-weekly GLP-1 that lowers blood sugar and supports long-term metabolic health.

  • Unique point: Proven heart health benefits—reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events in people with Type 2 diabetes (Chuang et al., 2024).

Benefits Beyond Weight Loss

While weight management is the most talked-about effect, GLP-1s bring other important health benefits:

  1. Blood Sugar Control – Designed to help people with Type 2 diabetes manage glucose and reduce A1C (Kommu et al., 2024).

  2. Heart Health – GLP-1s like Ozempic and Trulicity reduce cardiovascular risks such as heart attack and stroke (Chuang et al., 2024; Lincoff et al., 2023).

  3. Improved Insulin Sensitivity – They help your body use insulin more effectively (National Kidney Foundation, 2024).

  4. Reduced Inflammation – Research suggests GLP-1s may also have anti-inflammatory effects, supporting overall health (Chuang et al., 2024).

  5. Potential Kidney Protection – Recent FDA approvals highlight Ozempic’s ability to reduce kidney disease progression and cardiovascular death in people with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (Novo Nordisk, 2025).

Which One Is Right for You?

Choosing between Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Trulicity isn’t about “which one is best” but about which one fits your body, your health history, and your goals. Factors like blood sugar levels, cardiovascular health, tolerance, and insurance coverage all play a role.

At Island Wellness Clinic, we’ll walk you through your options and tailor your plan so you feel your best—inside and out.

✅ Curious if a GLP-1 could be right for you? Book a virtual consultation with Island Wellness Clinic today. We accept major insurances, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and Cigna.

📚 References

Chuang, M., Chen, J., Wang, H., Jiang, Z., & Wu, V.-C. (2024). Clinical outcomes of tirzepatide or GLP-1 receptor agonists in individuals with type 2 diabetes. JAMA Network Open, 7(8), e2427258. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.27258

Eli Lilly and Company. (2025, July 31). Lilly’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide) demonstrated cardiovascular protection in landmark head-to-head trial, reinforcing its benefit in patients with type 2 diabetes and heart disease [Press release]. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lillys-mounjaro-tirzepatide-a-gipglp-1-dual-agonist-demonstrated-cardiovascular-protection-in-landmark-head-to-head-trial-reinforcing-its-benefit-in-patients-with-type-2-diabetes-and-heart-disease-302517872.html

Kommu, S., & Rizzo, M. (2024). Semaglutide. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK603723/

Lincoff, A. M., Bhatnagar, S. R., Bohula, E. A., Charytan, D. M., Dwyer, J. P., Goldman, B., … & Bhatt, D. L. (2023). Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine, 389(24), 2243–2255. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2307563

National Kidney Foundation. (2024, September 16). GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/glp-1-receptor-agonists-glp-1-ras

Novo Nordisk. (2025, January 28). FDA approves Ozempic® (semaglutide) as the only GLP-1 RA to reduce the risk of worsening kidney disease and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease [Press release]. https://www.ozempic.com/content/dam/diabetes-patient/ozempic/pdfs/Ozempic_CKD_sNDA_Press_Release_January_28_2025.pdf