Trulicity is a once-daily injectable medication for helping people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar. It blocks the absorption of fats in the stomach to help decrease blood sugar levels. Trulicity must be used with diet and exercise and cannot be taken alone.
Trulicity is not recommended if you have any of the following conditions:
- You’re allergic to Trulicity or any of its ingredients -You have a history of thyroid disease.
- You have unusual stress, such as dehydration, fever, vomiting, or fasting.
- You have kidney failure or are on dialysis.
- You have a tumor in your adrenal gland that makes too much cortisol (adrenocorticotropic hormone).
- You take drugs for another condition that can increase risk of glucagonoma.
- a tumor on the alpha-cells in your pancreas that makes too much glucagon.
- including insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, and phenylpropanolamines –or if you’ve had an organ transplant in which it was necessary to suppress your immune system.
How does Trulicity Works?
The active ingredient in Trulicity, dulaglutide, is a synthetic form of the naturally occurring human GLP-1 hormone. GLP-1 is produced in the gut and stimulates the production of insulin. In people with type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 levels are lower than in those without the condition.
Trulicity mimics the effect of GLP-1 by binding to receptors in the upper small intestine and sending a signal to the pancreas to release insulin when sugar enters the blood from the food you eat. This decreases the amount of sugar in your blood and allows your cells to use the sugar for energy instead of storing it as fat.
What You Should Know Before Starting Trulicity?
Before taking Trulicity, tell your doctor about any health conditions you have, including liver or kidney problems, heart disease, hypoglycemia, high blood pressure, low blood sugar, allergies, or pregnancy. Because this drug is an injection, you may find it difficult to give yourself the first time. Your doctor can help you learn how to inject yourself correctly.
Don’t forget to wear a medical ID bracelet or necklace that says you have diabetes, and keep a blood glucose (sugar) monitoring kit nearby. Trulicity comes with a risk of pancreatitis, although the majority of patients do not experience this side effect. If you experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, or extreme tiredness or if you notice signs of pancreatitis, such as abdominal pain that gets worse when you move your bowels, you should contact your doctor immediately.
As with most medications, Trulicity can cause some side effects. Most are mild and go away with time. Some side effects are more serious and should be reported to your doctor immediately. The most common side effects of Trulicity are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. If you have severe abdominal pain or if your pain is getting worse, or if you have nausea or vomiting that won’t go away or gets worse, call your doctor. You should also see your doctor if you have diarrhea that lasts longer than a few days or gets worse each day.
Warnings and Precautions for Using Trulicity
Before you start taking Trulicity, inform your doctor if you have any medical conditions that would make you more susceptible to the risks of taking this medication. Your doctor will determine whether Trulicity is safe for you based on your overall health. Trulicity can cause low blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes who are taking insulin.
If you have problems with hypoglycemia, your doctor may advise you to take a lower dose of insulin. Tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems, heart disease, high blood pressure, low blood sugar, allergies, or pregnancy. Trulicity can increase your risk of developing pancreatitis. If you develop abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, or extreme tiredness, stop taking Trulicity and call your doctor right away.
Conclusion:
Trulicity is an injectable medication that mimics the effects of GLP-1 and helps to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It is not a cure for diabetes and must be used in conjunction with diet and exercise. Trulicity can cause mild side effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. These side effects usually go away with time and can be managed with changes to your diet and exercise routine.
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