Health · Medical Research · 11 hrs ago
Study links stopping GLP-1 drugs to higher heart risks in people with diabetes
A study followed more than 80,000 people with type 2 diabetes in Italy between 2004 and 2024.
About 60 per cent stopped taking GLP-1 medicines, a group of drugs that includes Ozempic and is used to help manage blood sugar and weight.
Those who stopped had about twice the risk of heart attack or stroke compared with people who continued treatment, and the study also reported a much higher risk of death from any cause.
People who stopped had only modest increases in weight, blood pressure and blood sugar, so these changes may not explain the full difference.
The researchers suggested the medicines might offer heart protection beyond weight loss, but the study cannot show that stopping them caused the added risk.
The study did not record why people stopped, and people who stopped may already have been in poorer health.
More research is needed to understand the link and what it means for people considering stopping treatment.
A study of more than 80,000 people with type 2 diabetes in Italy linked stopping GLP-1 drugs to higher risks of heart attack, stroke or death.
People who stopped treatment were about twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as those who continued, while their risk of death from any cause was nearly five times higher in the Daily Mail’s account.
The researchers found only modest changes in weight, blood pressure and blood sugar among people who stopped.
The study cannot prove that stopping the drugs caused the increased risks, and experts said the reasons participants stopped were not recorded.
The study did not include tirzepatide, and only a small number of participants used semaglutide.
- Who
- More than 80,000 people with type 2 diabetes in Italy took part. Researchers led by Antonio Ceriello studied the outcomes.
- What
- The study linked stopping GLP-1 drugs to higher risks of heart attack, stroke or death than continuing treatment.
- When
- The study followed participants between 2004 and 2024. It was published on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Italy.
- Why
- Researchers said the drugs may protect the heart beyond their effects on weight and blood sugar. The study could not establish why participants stopped treatment or prove that stopping caused the outcomes.
Researchers led by Antonio Ceriello
Australian experts urging caution
Interpretation
Researchers led by Antonio Ceriello
The researchers said stopping GLP-1 drugs was associated with poorer heart outcomes and suggested the drugs may offer direct cardiovascular protection.
Australian experts urging caution
Experts said the findings do not prove causation and may be misleading without knowing why participants stopped treatment.
Evidence
Researchers led by Antonio Ceriello
Ceriello said the strength of the link was surprising and that modest changes in weight, blood pressure and blood sugar did not fully explain the increased risk.
Australian experts urging caution
Natalie Raffoul said more research was needed; Clara Chow said a deeper understanding of why participants stopped was necessary.
The study followed more than 80,000 Italians with type 2 diabetes, according to ABC Australia.
About 60 per cent of participants stopped taking their GLP-1 medication.
The study was published in The Lancet Regional Health — Europe.
- Participants
- More than 80,000 people with type 2 diabetes in Italy
- Stopped treatment
- About 60 per cent; ABC Australia gives the total as 80,302 participants
- Heart outcomes
- About 4 in 100 people who stopped had a heart attack, stroke or died, compared with about 2 in 100 who continued
- Study period
- 2004–2024, according to ABC Australia
- Excluded drug
- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) was not included
- Semaglutide
- Only a small number of participants used it
3 sources
Tödliche Risiken: Warum das Absetzen von Abnehmmedikamenten für Diabetiker gefährlich ist
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Study links heart issues to starting and stopping Ozempic-like drugs
What people are saying
If stopped, this protection is lost
We know that stopping it comes with consequences and perhaps this study is pointing a spotlight on the fact that these negative consequences might actually be quite significant
If you've discontinued medication, is it because you feel sick taking it? Or you've got another illness? Or you've got a problem that interacts with it … there's a lot of reasons why people stop treatment.
First, patients should go down to a lower dose and then start extending the time period between doses before stopping completely