GLP-1 Peptides in Modern Biohacking: Research on Appetite, Blood Sugar & Weight Control
Lucy Payton 
The majority of recent studies show a rise in the number of people being affected by blood sugar, appetite issues, and weight management. These 3 are also related and impact each other, and people often have a hard time regulating them. There have been multiple medications and ways introduced to keep a tap on these issues, but most have either no impact or have a very slow success rate. However, things have taken a turn, and on a brighter side, we might have a solution with GLP-1 peptides.
We’re very thankful for the biologists from Cellpeptides who helped us craft this scientific content piece.
Understanding GLP-1 Peptides
GLP-1 Peptide or Glucagon-like Peptide-1 is a 30-amino acid peptide hormone which is present in the intestine and hypothalamus. As per the recent studies, it has been seen that GLP-1 is related to lipid metabolism and is released with food intake and participates in lipid metabolism by preventing fat synthesis, enhancing cholesterol metabolism, and promoting fat differentiation.
As it is incretin, it also helps with glucose regulation and stimulate insulin release when blood sugar levels get high. It supresses glucagon, which is a hormone that raises the blood sugar, which is precisely effective for people dealing with Type 2 diabetes. Apart from playing an important role in weight management and glucose regulation, GLP-1 is also responsible for appetite management. When the peptide level rises, it signals the hypothalamus present in the brain to regulate hunger and satiety.
By addressing three major concerns in the human body, GLP-1 peptide is predicted to change the world of metabolic disorders. Let’s now breakdown how this peptide addresses these 3 issues individually.
How GLP-1 Peptide Helps with Blood Sugar?
GLP-1 peptides imitate the natural hormone glucagon, which is released in response to the food you eat and helps determine how your brain, pancreas, stomach, and liver react to glucose. These peptides are commonly used for people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes and in prediabetic conditions. Let’s understand better how it helps with blood sugar.
Stimulating Insulin When Blood Sugar is High
When administered, GLP-1 stimulates the pancreases to release more insulin when the blood glucose has risen. When you eat food and it shoots the blood sugar level, the GLP-1 receptor activates and tells the beta cells present in the pancreas to produce more insulin. This further helps the glucose level to move out of your bloodstream into muscles and other tissues. As a result of glucose-dependent factors, the risks of low blood sugar are lower.
Reduces Excess Glucose Production from the Liver
GLP-1 peptides also have an impact on the alpha cells of the pancreas and on the liver to reduce the levels of glucagon, a hormone that signals the liver to release the glucose stored in the bloodstream. It is particularly beneficial in the case of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance when the glucagon can be high, making the liver to produce more sugar. GLP-1 can lower glucagon when it is not needed and decrease the glucose output from the liver.
GLP-1 Peptides for blood sugar: Semaglutide, Dulaglutide, and Liraglutide.
How GLP-1 Peptide Helps with Weight Management?
As GLP-1 peptides are a medication that imitates the body’s natural hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, which is released after you eat food. Though the medication was originally developed to counter Type-1 diabetes, it was later started being used to reduce body weight and showed great results. Let’s know how it helps with weight management:
Reduces Calorie Intake
GLP-1 peptides help with weight management by influencing appetite. It impacts the appetite centres located in the brain to increase the feeling of fullness and suppresses the feeling of hunger. When GLP-1 peptide is administered, people feel satisfied with smaller portions of food and consume less food and avoid overeating.
Impacts on Fat Loss and Metabolism
When you eat fewer calories and have fewer cravings under GLP-1 peptide medication, it helps with gradual body fat loss, especially in the areas around the abdomen. The visceral fat is the most stubborn, but when it starts to lose, it improves sensitivity, reduced the risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, and high blood pressure. By losing fat, you feel more energetic and have better sleep.
GLP-1 Peptides for Weight Loss: Tirzepatide, Liraglutide, and Semaglutide.
How GLP-1 Peptide Helps with Appetite Control?
GLP-1 receptors present in the brain area regulate hunger and satiety, precisely in the hypothalamus. When you take GLP-1 peptides, it stimulates the receptors and gives your mind the signals of feeling full, making you feel full during and after the feel. When constantly consumed, it gradually reduces the overall food intake. Let’s know further how it helps with appetite control:
Impacts Cravings and Food
Though affecting the hunger directly, GLP-1 peptides also wire the brain’s way of conceiving the idea of consuming food and how it reacts to certain foods, precisely to high-fat and sugary foods. Many people have observed that their urge to certain food that gave them pleasure earlier starts becoming weak. This emotional connection with food consumption and impulsive eating decreases with time and stays consistent with healthier choices and a smaller portion.
Slowing Stomach Emptying Process
GLP-1 peptides support appetite management by slowing down the time and how early the food leaves the stomach and reaches the intestines. When your stomach gets emptied slowly and you feel more active and physically full for a longer period of time, even if there is a gap between your next meal. The also reduces the drop in blood sugar that triggers cravings and overeating. When everything come in support and coordination, it shows steady progress on appetite control, promoting fat loss as well.
GLP-1 Peptides for appetite control: Tirzepatide, Liraglutide, and Semaglutide.
GLP-1 peptides are being heavily adapted by the medical fields for their ability to promote appetite control, blood sugar control, and weight management. Initially developed and used for Type-2 diabetes cases, its properties and impact on weight management in collaboration with appetite control are doing wonders and have already shown great results.
