Diabetes Weight Loss Drug: what’s safe and what’s off-limits
When you live with diabetes, it’s completely understandable to ask:
“Is there a diabetes weight loss drug that could help me?”
“Are there diabetes tablets for weight loss?”
“What about shots for diabetics to lose weight – do they exist?”
Some diabetes medicines do affect weight – sometimes in a helpful way, sometimes not. But there’s also a darker side: people altering insulin doses or self-medicating in unsafe ways to try to lose weight faster.
This article explains:
Which diabetes meds to lose weight may be considered
Why some medicines cause weight gain rather than loss
The truth about insulin shots for weight loss (and why this is risky)
How medicines like metformin and Victoza fit in
Why any changes to your diabetes treatment must be done with a specialist, not DIY
1. Why some diabetes medicines affect your weight
Diabetes medicines work in different ways:
Some improve insulin sensitivity or help your body use glucose more effectively
Some help your kidneys excrete excess sugar in urine
Some change appetite and fullness signals in the brain and gut
Some (like insulin) help your body store glucose, which can lead to weight gain if doses/food aren’t balanced
This is why there’s so much interest in a “diabetes weight loss drug” or the “best diabetes drug for weight loss” – patients and doctors understandably want options that manage blood sugar without driving more weight gain.
But it’s critical to remember:
The primary goal of diabetes treatment is safe blood sugar control and long-term protection of your organs – not just the number on the scales.
Weight loss, where appropriate, can be part of that picture – but not at the expense of your safety.
2. GLP-1 medications: diabetes drugs that also support weight loss
Some of the most talked-about modern diabetes medicines are GLP-1 receptor agonists – a class of injectable (and sometimes oral) drugs that:
Help the body release insulin when needed
Reduce glucagon (a hormone that raises blood sugar)
Slow stomach emptying and affect appetite centres in the brain
They were developed for diabetes, but are now also used (in specific formulations and doses) for people with obesity, with or without diabetes.
Examples include:
Liraglutide (for diabetes as Victoza; for obesity at a different dose as Saxenda)
Semaglutide (for diabetes as Ozempic; for obesity as Wegovy)
Other GLP-1 and dual-agonist drugs, depending on country and approval
Victoza and weight loss
People often search for “Victoza weight loss” or “Victoza and weight loss” because:
Victoza (liraglutide 1.2–1.8 mg) is licensed primarily for type 2 diabetes, but weight loss can be a beneficial side-effect for some.
The same active ingredient at a higher dose is marketed separately as a weight management medicine (Saxenda) in eligible patients.
Important distinctions:
Using Victoza with the main goal of weight loss is considered off-label in many settings. That decision must be made by a specialist, weighing your diabetes control, cardiovascular risk and BMI.
If you have diabetes and are overweight or obese, your specialist might deliberately choose a GLP-1 because it helps both blood sugar and weight – but it’s still a diabetes medicine first.
GLP-1s as “diabetes meds to lose weight”
You might see GLP-1s described informally as “diabetes meds to lose weight” because:
They often lead to clinically meaningful weight loss in people with diabetes who are also living with excess weight.
They can help you feel full sooner, eat smaller portions and avoid big glucose swings.
However:
They’re not suitable for everyone (e.g. certain thyroid conditions, history of pancreatitis, specific family histories).
They must be prescribed and monitored; side-effects like nausea, vomiting and gallbladder issues need supervision.
Cutting corners by buying them online without proper medical oversight is risky.
If you don’t have diabetes but live with obesity, your doctor might discuss weight-loss-specific GLP-1 formulationsinstead. A clinic like Piko focuses on this weight management pathway, not on DIY adjustments to your diabetes treatment.
3. SGLT2 inhibitors: losing sugar (and calories) in urine
Another class of diabetes medicines that can influence weight are SGLT2 inhibitors (often ending in “-flozin”). These drugs:
Help your kidneys excrete excess glucose in urine
Lower blood sugar levels
Lead to mild weight loss in many people (you’re literally passing calories out in your urine)
Examples (names vary by region) include:
Dapagliflozin
Empagliflozin
Canagliflozin
These are sometimes seen as “friendlier” for weight compared with older diabetes medicines that promote weight gain.
Key points:
Weight loss with SGLT2s tends to be modest – they’re not a dedicated weight loss tool.
They carry specific risks (e.g. genital infections, dehydration, rare but serious DKA even at “normal” sugars), so must be used under specialist guidance.
They might be part of your overall plan if you have diabetes, excess weight and certain heart or kidney issues, but they’re not “diet pills”.
4. Metformin and weight: useful, but not magic
Metformin is one of the most common diabetes tablets for weight loss that people ask about, even when they don’t have diabetes.
Realistically:
Metformin is primarily a blood sugar-lowering medicine for type 2 diabetes (and sometimes for conditions like PCOS).
It improves insulin sensitivity and reduces glucose made by the liver.
In many people, it is weight-neutral or can lead to small weight loss, especially if it reduces appetite or improves glucose control.
So, what about “metformin to lose weight”?
In people with diabetes and excess weight, metformin can help stabilise blood sugar and support modest weight loss as part of a bigger lifestyle plan.
In people without diabetes, using metformin purely for weight loss is not standard and should only be considered in very specific circumstances under specialist care (for example, in PCOS with insulin resistance).
You should never start, stop or change metformin doses just to chase weight changes – it’s a metabolic medicine, not a casual slimming pill.
5. Insulin and weight: why “insulin shots for weight loss” is a dangerous myth
Among the most concerning trends are searches like:
“shots for diabetics to lose weight”
“insulin shots for weight loss”
These ideas are dangerous.
Why insulin doesn’t help you lose weight
Insulin is a life-saving hormone that:
Allows glucose to move from your blood into your cells
Helps store energy (as glycogen or fat)
Because of this storage role, insulin therapy can sometimes lead to weight gain if:
Doses are high
There’s frequent “defensive eating” to prevent hypos
Diet and activity aren’t adjusted alongside treatment
So using more insulin as a “shot for diabetics to lose weight” simply doesn’t make sense biologically. The opposite is often true.
The extremely dangerous behaviour: under-dosing or skipping insulin
Some people with diabetes, especially younger individuals, may be tempted to:
Skip or reduce insulin to make their blood sugar run high, leading to weight loss through calorie loss in urine and, essentially, breakdown of muscle and fat.
This behaviour is sometimes called “diabulimia” (an eating disorder in people with type 1 diabetes). It:
Can cause severe dehydration and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
Damages blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves
Can be fatal
If you recognise this in yourself or someone you love, it is a medical and mental health emergency. Please speak to your diabetes team, GP or an emergency service immediately.
Under-using insulin is never a safe or acceptable weight loss strategy.
6. Older diabetes drugs and weight gain
Not all diabetes medicines are friendly to your weight. Some older classes (e.g. sulfonylureas, certain insulin regimens, and others) can:
Stimulate insulin secretion in a way that drives weight gain
Increase the risk of hypoglycaemia, which in turn can lead to extra snacking “just in case”
This doesn’t mean they’re “bad” – they may still be the right choice for many patients. But if weight gain is a major concern, your specialist might:
Adjust doses
Combine them with more weight-neutral or weight-reducing agents
Support you with a dietitian and tailored weight management plan
Again, this is a conversation for you and your diabetes team, not something to self-tinker with at home.
7. So what is the “best diabetes drug for weight loss”?
There’s no universal answer.
The “best diabetes drug for weight loss” depends on:
Your type of diabetes (type 1 vs type 2)
Your current HbA1c and glucose patterns
Co-existing conditions (heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, etc.)
Your BMI, weight history and previous weight loss attempts
Other medications you’re taking
What you can realistically manage in terms of injections, blood tests, follow-up and cost
Broad strokes:
GLP-1 medications and SGLT2 inhibitors tend to be weight-neutral or weight-reducing, and may be favoured in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Metformin is often a good first-line choice because it’s weight-neutral/ modestly weight-reducing and has strong safety data in appropriate patients.
Insulin and some older tablets can cause weight gain, but may still be essential; rather than stopping them, your team may adjust the plan around them.
The real “best choice” is the one that safely controls your diabetes, fits your life, and – where appropriate – supports gradual, sustainable weight loss, not crash dieting.
8. Why self-medicating is so risky
With all the buzz around “diabetes meds to lose weight”, it can be tempting to:
Buy GLP-1 injections off random websites or social media
Order diabetes tablets for weight loss from abroad
Adjust your own doses of insulin, metformin or other drugs to “hack” your weight
This is dangerous because:
You risk severe hypoglycaemia, DKA, dehydration, kidney strain or cardiac issues.
You may be taking medicines that interact with your other prescriptions.
You might be using counterfeit or contaminated products.
You’re changing a delicate balance that your diabetes team has built up over months or years.
Strong message: Never change your diabetes medications without involving your GP, endocrinologist or diabetes nurse. That includes starting new drugs, buying injections online, or “borrowing” a friend’s medicine.
9. How Piko fits in: weight management, not DIY diabetes care
Piko is a digital weight loss clinic, not a DIY diabetes platform.
What that means in practice:
Our focus is on weight management programmes that may include evidence-based weight loss medicines (such as GLP-1 injections) for eligible patients.
We do not encourage or support patients to self-adjust their diabetes treatment.
If you have diabetes and are considering a weight loss programme, it’s essential that:
Your diabetes team is aware, and
Any medicines we consider are used alongside proper diabetes care, not instead of it.
If you join a structured programme, your clinician will:
Take a full medical history, including your diabetes diagnosis, current medications and complications.
Evaluate whether a weight-loss-specific medicine (e.g. GLP-1 used for obesity) is appropriate.
Work with – not against – your existing diabetes treatment plan.
10. Next steps if you’re interested in weight loss and have diabetes
If you’re wondering about diabetes medicines for weight loss, a safe path might look like this:
Talk to your diabetes team
Share your concerns about weight, energy and long-term risk.
Ask whether medicines with a more favourable weight profile (GLP-1s, SGLT2s, metformin optimised, etc.) could suit your situation.
Review your lifestyle support
Ask for a referral to a dietitian or structured education programme.
Combine medication with practical changes you can realistically keep up.
Explore specialist weight management programmes
If you live with obesity and diabetes, you may be eligible for NHS or private weight management pathways (including GLP-1s in some cases).
A digital clinic like Piko can help assess your eligibility for weight-loss-specific treatments – but always in collaboration with your broader healthcare picture.
Avoid shortcuts
No buying “diabetes meds to lose weight” from unverified websites.
No self-adjusting insulin, metformin or other drugs.
No crash diets that leave you hypo, dehydrated or unwell.
Bottom line
Some diabetes medicines can help with weight loss – especially GLP-1s, SGLT2s and, to a lesser extent, metformin.
Others, like insulin and some older tablets, may cause weight gain, but are still crucial for many patients.
“Insulin shots for weight loss” and extreme dose manipulation are dangerous myths that can cost lives.
The right balance of medications for you should always be decided with a specialist, not through trial and error at home.
If you’re living with diabetes and struggling with your weight, you deserve support – but you also deserve to be safe. The best first step is always an honest conversation with your healthcare team about both your blood sugar and your weight, so your treatment plan can support your whole health, not just one number.
