GLP-1 and diabetes glossary
14 plain-English definitions of the terms you will meet on labels, in trials and at the pharmacy.
- A1C
- A blood test showing average blood sugar over about 3 months.
- Basal insulin
- Long-acting insulin that covers background needs between meals and overnight.
- BMI
- Body mass index — weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared.
- Boxed warning
- The FDA's strongest label warning.
- Compounded drug
- A drug mixed by a pharmacy for a patient; not FDA-approved.
- GIP
- Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide — a gut hormone targeted by tirzepatide.
- GLP-1
- Glucagon-like peptide-1 — a gut hormone that raises insulin, lowers appetite and slows digestion.
- Half-life
- Time for the amount of a drug in the body to fall by half.
- Hypoglycemia
- Low blood sugar.
- MASH
- Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis — a form of fatty liver disease.
- MTC
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma — the cancer named in GLP-1 boxed warnings.
- Off-label
- Use of a drug for a purpose not on its approved label.
- Insurer approval needed before a drug is covered.
- Titration
- Gradual dose increases to improve tolerance.
No term matches.
Sources
Checked against these primary sources on .