How does Trulicity work?

• Trulicity mimics the action of GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone that helps to regulate blood glucose levels.
• It binds to GLP-1 receptors, stimulating insulin secretion and lowering glucagon secretion from the liver. It also slows stomach emptying.
• Trulicity is given by subcutaneous injection, once a week.

Trulicity (dulaglutide) mimics the action of GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone that helps to regulate blood glucose levels. It may be used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (such as a heart attack or stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes who already have cardiovascular disease or are at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

Trulicity contains 90% of the same amino acid sequence as naturally occurring GLP-1. This enables it to bind to and activate GLP-1 receptors, which stimulates insulin secretion and lowers glucagon secretion when blood glucose levels are high. It also causes a slowing down in how fast the stomach empties.

Trulicity is given by subcutaneous (under the skin) injection into your stomach, thighs, or upper arm, once a week and may be used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Trulicity does not work for type 1 diabetes.

Trulicity is not a form of insulin. It relies on people still having some functioning beta cells – these are the cells in the pancreas that produce, store, and release insulin.

Trulicity belongs to the class of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. It may also be called an incretin mimetic.