Not a Weight-Loss Shot, a Diabetes Injection

On leptin, insulin, and true metabolic balance

Recently, since we talk so much about healthy living — healthivity — and say that its most important parameter is the digestive system, the question “Doctor, what do you think about weight-loss injections?” is being asked a lot.

Let’s clarify this first: These are not weight-loss injections. We must call them by their correct name. These injections are medications used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and act by reducing peripheral insulin resistance. In other words, they are treatments used by diabetic patients.

Alongside the diabetes medications that were initially given in tablet form, there is another hormone whose role should not be overlooked: the leptin hormone. Although it deserves to be mentioned more often in recent research, it is a hormone rarely spoken about on social media, yet it is one of the key players in the metabolic system.

Leptin and insulin are two hormones that work within the same system, opposite to each other but complementary at the same time. As in many systems in nature, these hormones work in opposing ways to protect balance. These two contrasting parameters work in harmony to help maintain human health.

Leptin is produced in fat tissue. When fat tissue becomes filled with energy, leptin sends a message to our brain, particularly the hypothalamus: “I have enough energy. You don’t need to eat anything. You can suppress appetite.” After this message, many signals are transmitted from the hypothalamus to the pancreas, the glucagon system, the thyroid gland, thyroxine production, and to ghrelin in the stomach. The body reduces appetite and increases energy expenditure. It begins to burn the fat and sugar it has stored.

But here something interesting happens: As the body burns fat, blood sugar can rise, and insulin is secreted accordingly. The incretin hormones in the upper part of the intestines — GLP1 and GIP — step in and support insulin. The system may seem extremely complex, yet it operates in its own automation with perfect balance.

We know insulin resistance, but leptin also has a resistance in the hypothalamus. In individuals with leptin resistance, no matter how much leptin is produced, the feeling of satiety cannot be perceived. Therefore, they constantly feel the urge to eat. In many people who say, “I have emotional eating,” the issue is actually the balance between leptin and ghrelin. As leptin increases, ghrelin decreases, but if leptin decreases or leptin resistance develops, ghrelin does not decrease or switch off — and the desire to eat continues. Even during fullness, a true sense of satiety cannot be achieved.

Now, regarding these injections… These medications began to be used in place of diabetes tablets, aiming to reduce insulin resistance, elevate incretin hormones, and at the same time strengthen leptin’s effect on the hypothalamus by reducing leptin resistance.

You can measure blood leptin levels, but it is not possible to measure leptin resistance. Insulin resistance can be measured, but leptin resistance has no objective test. Therefore, the mechanism of action may vary from person to person.

Fourth-generation weekly injections appear very popular today. In users, significant appetite reduction, rapid burning of energy, and reductions in leptin and insulin resistance seem possible. However...

These are diabetes medications. They are not weight-loss injections. When used unconsciously solely for losing weight, serious side effects may occur.

Some publications state that one of the major side effects of these medications is muscle loss. There are warnings that cardiac problems related to muscle loss may also occur. In addition, because these medications are new-generation drugs, it is not known what effects they may have on people in 5–10 years.

While people are hesitant even about a vaccine, asking “What will happen to me in 5 years?”, I find it extremely wrong that some receive weekly injections just to lose weight. If, however, they are used under medical supervision in type 2 diabetes treatment — when oral medications are insufficient, peripheral resistance increases, leptin resistance intensifies, or when severe conditions such as ketoacidosis due to high sugar appear — their benefits will of course be significant.

But it must be remembered: The foundation of healthy living is not fighting hormones, but establishing balance with them.

Therefore, paying attention to your leptin levels, leptin resistance, and insulin resistance is one of the most important steps for your quality of life.

Please do not lose contact with your doctor.