Can a GLP-1 Improve Insulin Resistance?
Published on July 27, 2026
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Up until the last five years or so, the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes was metformin. But with the introduction of glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) agonist drugs — and 20 years of research on them — doctors are increasingly prescribing these medications as a first-line treatment.
GLP-1s not only help regulate blood sugar levels among people with type 2 diabetes; they can also improve metabolic health by lowering inflammation in the body and boosting weight loss, which can make it easier to manage the condition.
But can GLP-1s produce long-lasting changes to your blood sugar levels and improve insulin resistance over the long-term? Here’s what we know about the drugs and how long their effects last.
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What Is Insulin And Insulin Resistance?
Endocrinologist Deena Adimoolam, MD, explains what insulin and insulin resistance are and how they affect the body for healthy people and for those with diabetes.
Read MoreHow GLP-1s Affect Insulin
GLP-1 medications help the body release insulin more effectively. They mimic a naturally occurring hormone that helps the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar levels rise after a meal.
That increase in insulin helps move glucose out of the bloodstream and into cells, where it can be used for energy. At the same time, GLP-1 medications reduce the release of glucagon, a hormone that tells the liver to release stored glucose into the blood. Together, these effects help lower blood sugar levels and improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.
These benefits are due to the weight loss effects of GLP-1s, but the medication may also improve insulin sensitivity directly, too. One study examining the effects of the GLP-1 liraglutide, for example, found that the medication improved insulin sensitivity within two weeks, prior to weight loss, in people who have obesity and prediabetes, but other research has found that GLP-1s only have minimal direct benefits on insulin sensitivity.
Clinical studies show that people with type 2 diabetes typically experience lower blood glucose and increased insulin secretion during GLP-1 treatment, usually for as long as they take the medication. This is particularly true during the first two years of treatment.
Can a GLP-1 Improve Insulin Resistance?
GLP-1 medications improve insulin levels while they’re being taken, but there is no evidence that insulin resistance remains permanently within a healthy range with long-term use. They can, however, boost your metabolic health in other ways while you’re using them.
Weight Loss
Excess body fat, particularly the visceral type that surrounds the organs, is a primary driver of insulin resistance. GLP-1 medications suppress appetite and reduce caloric intake, and the resulting weight loss makes cells more responsive to insulin.
Lower Blood Glucose
When blood glucose remains elevated over time, tissues become less responsive to insulin signaling, a key feature of insulin resistance. By lowering blood sugar levels, GLP-1 medications reduce chronic metabolic strain, which helps boost insulin responsiveness.
Reduced Inflammation
Research suggests GLP-1 receptor agonists may lower signs of chronic, low-grade inflammation, including markers like C-reactive protein, and may also improve oxidative stress in the body. Together, these changes may reduce the metabolic strain that can interfere with healthy insulin function and blood sugar regulation.
What Happens to Insulin Levels if You Stop Taking a GLP-1 for Type 2 Diabetes Treatment?
Insulin levels start returning to pre-medication levels relatively quickly. “In clinical trials, those who stopped the GLP-1 medicine regained the weight,” says Michael Weintraub, MD, a specialist in endocrinology and obesity medicine at NYU Langone Health in New York City. “Not everyone regained all the weight, but the vast majority of individuals did. And with weight gain comes the return of insulin resistance.”
If you discontinue the medication, lifestyle interventions can partially preserve insulin sensitivity improvements after you stop taking the meds, says Silvana Obici, MD, the chief of the division of endocrinology at Stony Brook Medicine and the medical director of the Stony Brook University Hospital Diabetes Center in New York. Whole foods, increased fiber, regular exercise — including strength training — and prioritizing sleep and stress management may all help.
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Resources
- Andraos J et al. Narrative Review of Data Supporting Alternate First-Line Therapies Over Metformin in Type 2 Diabetes. Journal of Metabolic Disorders. March 25, 2024.
- Tanday N et al. Metabolic Responses and Benefits of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor Ligands. British Journal of Pharmacology. April 6, 2021.
- Feingold KR. Oral and Injectable (Non-Insulin) Pharmacological Agents for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. Endotext. December 29, 2025.
- Alfaris N et al. GLP-1 Single, Dual, and Triple Receptor Agonists for Treating Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity: A Narrative Review. eClinical Medicine. September 2024.
- Mashayekhi M et al. Weight Loss-Independent Effect of Liraglutide on Insulin Sensitivity in Individuals With Obesity and Prediabetes. Diabetes. January 1, 2024.
- Rosen CJ et al. GLP-1 Agonists. New England Journal of Medicine. April 1, 2026.
- Akoumianakis I et al. GLP-1 Analogs and Regional Adiposity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Obesity Reviews. May 16, 2023.
- Yao H et al. Comparative Effectiveness of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Glycaemic Control, Body Weight, and Lipid Profile for Type 2 Diabetes: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. The BMJ. January 29, 2024.
- Bray JJH et al. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Improve Biomarkers Of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Of Randomised Controlled Trials. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. April 8, 2021.
- About Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 15, 2024.
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Elise M. Brett, MD
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Elise M Brett, MD, is a board-certified adult endocrinologist. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and her MD degree from the Icahn School of Medicine ...
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