Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the most common form of diabetes mellitus, accounting for approximately 90-95% of all diabetes cases worldwide. Unlike type 1 diabetes, which results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells, T2D develops when the body’s cells become progressively resistant to the effects of insulin and the pancreas cannot produce sufficient insulin to overcome this resistance. The condition is strongly associated with obesity, physical inactivity, and genetic predisposition, and its prevalence has risen dramatically in parallel with global increases in obesity rates.

The management of T2D has been transformed by incretin-based therapies over the past two decades. GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and liraglutide have demonstrated robust glucose-lowering efficacy alongside significant weight reduction, addressing two core aspects of the disease simultaneously. Retatrutide, as a triple agonist targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors, represents the next evolution in this therapeutic approach. In Phase 2 clinical trials, retatrutide achieved substantial reductions in HbA1c in participants with T2D, with many patients reaching the target of <7.0% that is associated with reduced risk of diabetic complications.

The connection between T2D and obesity creates a vicious cycle in which excess adiposity worsens insulin resistance, while insulin resistance promotes further fat accumulation. Therapies that can simultaneously address both conditions, often referred to as treating “diabesity,” are therefore of immense clinical value. Retatrutide’s unprecedented weight loss results in clinical trials, combined with its potent glucose-lowering effects, position it as a potentially transformative treatment for the millions of patients living with T2D and co-existing obesity.