“Oh, Oh, Oh, Ozempic!” “I can do diabetes differently with Mounjaro!” I would bet at least one of these commercials is a part of your regular TV-viewing experience. After all, these glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, among others, are shown effective in managing
type 2 diabetes and in treating obesity—2 prevalent health issues in America.
Further, roughly 8% to 10% of Americans are using GLP-1 agonists, and 30% to 35% say they’re interested in using them, according to a Pricewaterhouse Coopers study. (See https://pwc.to/3YLcVKn.)
So, what do these medications have to do with Optometric Management’s annual Practicing Medical Optometry (PMO) Diabetes issue?
A Connection
In “Diabetic Retinopathy and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonists” (p.10), Sherrol A. Reynolds, OD, FAAO, FNAP, discusses the latest study that links GLP-1 agonists with the worsening of diabetic retinopathy (DR).
Enter the optometrist who has the expertise in monitoring this progressive and blinding condition with the help of state-of-the-art technologies.
I think it can be argued that the connection between GLP-1 agonists and worsening DR reinforces the OD’s importance as a member of the patient’s health care team, particularly as so many patients are using these drugs.
Should optometrists consider alerting their local health care providers about this link, as well as their prowess in monitoring DR progression? Would these action steps greatly benefit both patients and practices? Please let me know at Jennifer.Kirby@Conexiant.com.
One Piece of DR Technology
In “Case Study: Electroretinography (ERG) in Diabetic Retinopathy” (p.15), Jeffrey Calhoun, OD, FAAO, details his journey with a patient who has type 2 diabetes. This patient started using one of the GLP-1 agonists. ERG helped prompt the patient to see a retina specialist.
Other Ways to Intervene
In addition to emphasizing the importance of monitoring for worsening DR in GLP-1 users, this issue also covers ocular nutritional supplements for DR (p.18), coding for diabetes (p.23), and online exclusives dedicated to the OD’s role in diabetes. OM