The Wonder Drug GLP Keeping Us on Our Toes

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications are taking the medical world by storm, with about one in eight patients saying they have taken these drugs, as illustrated in a recent Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll. Of those users, 62% are focused on managing diabetes or heart disease, while a cheeky 38% confess they just want to shed some extra pounds.

Time to shake things up: Replacing outdated ideas with new perspectives

Historically, the old guard believed in pausing GLP-1 meds to restore normal gastric motility. But surprise! Stopping these meds can lead to rebound hyperglycemia, which is about as risky as eating a double cheeseburger before running a marathon. 

New pre-surgery guidance for GLP-1 medications

Given these revelations, new pre-surgery guidelines now recommend that patients follow a liquid diet 24 hours before elective surgery. For high-risk patients, using an ultrasound is now the fashionable way to ensure the stomach is empty. Patients on GLP-1 medications, especially in the early days of treatment, should be cautious due to an increased risk of aspiration. It might be wise to postpone that surgery until any gastrointestinal drama dies down.