Are People With Type 2 Diabetes Satisfied With GLP-1 Drugs?

But how do people with type 2 diabetes feel about taking them? An Everyday Health survey of 501 people with type 2 diabetes, some of whom currently or previously used GLP-1 medications, found that most were satisfied with their treatment, but satisfaction varied by certain factors, including age and how long they had been using the medication.

Respondents taking GLP-1 drugs to help treat type 2 diabetes had varying levels of satisfaction:

• 41 percent were very satisfied.
• 42 percent were somewhat satisfied.
• 9 percent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.
• 6 percent were somewhat dissatisfied.
• 2 percent were very dissatisfied.

Ozempic (semaglutide) was the most used medication among people using GLP-1s, with 46 percent currently using the drug. Mounjaro (tirzepatide), which is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, was the second-most common medication, at 28 percent.

People diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for 10 years or more and on a GLP-1 were the most likely group to say they were "very satisfied" (50 percent). That's compared with 43 percent of people diagnosed between 4 and 10 years ago, and with 32 percent of those diagnosed within the past three years.

This could be because people who have been taking a GLP-1 longer may have had more time to find a regimen that works for them and see the benefits of treatment, says Alpana Shukla, MD, director of clinical research at the Comprehensive Weight Control Center with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. That could contribute to making them feel more confident about their care.

Older respondents reported higher satisfaction with their type 2 diabetes treatment compared with younger people. Baby boomers reported the highest rates, with 82 percent saying they were very or somewhat satisfied. Millennial respondents were close behind, at 81 percent, while 71 percent of Gen Z respondents reported satisfaction.

Looking more closely at GLP-1 treatment satisfaction, millennials reported the highest satisfaction (88 percent), followed by users in Gen Z (82 percent) and Gen X (80 percent), then baby boomers (79 percent).

Despite their higher satisfaction, younger generations appear to be less consistent with their GLP-1 drug use than their older counterparts. Forty-three percent of baby boomers and 43 percent of Gen X respondents who had taken a GLP-1 had never stopped and restarted treatment, compared with 27 percent of millennial and 14 percent of Gen Z respondents. Gen Z respondents were significantly more likely than respondents in other generations to report stopping and restarting GLP-1 treatment two or more times.

Experts warn against cycling on and off the medication. “The effects and benefits of using GLP-1s require continued long-term use,” Dr. Shukla says. “Discontinuing GLP-1 treatment will lead to loss of glucose control.”

One of the most commonly reported improvements was blood sugar or A1C control: 88 percent said it had improved a great deal or somewhat.

Eighty-six percent of respondents had lost weight since starting a GLP-1 medication. The average reported weight loss among current users was 29 pounds. About half of those currently using a GLP-1 had lost between 10 and 29 pounds, while about 1 in 5 had lost 50 pounds or more.

There are other notable emotional and behavioral changes as well:

• 32 percent of current users reported less food noise and cravings.
• 30 percent reported better sleep.
• 25 percent reported having more consistent energy levels.
• 24 percent reported improved confidence and well-being.

Although most respondents were satisfied with their treatment, they still encountered barriers. Among past GLP-1 users, 41 percent said that insurance coverage or cost was a reason they stopped taking the medication, making it the most-cited reason. Thirty percent cited concerns about side effects, while 18 percent said they disliked the injection process.

The good news is that there are some solutions. An oral GLP-1 can be offered instead of an injection, and in most patients, side effects lessen with continued treatment, Shukla says. “Maintaining close follow-up to assess response and tolerability will ensure that doses are increased only as needed and tolerated,” Shukla says. “This can be different for each patient.”

Sources: Everyday Health Type 2 Diabetes/GLP-1 Patient Survey, N= 501, Aug. 5-13, 2026.