But several profiles make thorough baseline testing genuinely non-negotiable: Any history of type 2 diabetes or prediabetes (HbA1c monitoring changes medication management) Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2 syndrome (direct contraindication) History of pancreatitis (GLP-1 medications carry a pancreatitis warning) Chronic kidney disease or known renal impairment Current use of insulin, metformin, or other glucose-lowering medications (drug interaction and hypoglycemia risk) History of eating disorders, severe gastroparesis, or significant GI conditions PCOS or other hormonal conditions that drive weight-related metabolic dysfunction 1.3 What clinical guidelines say The American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Medical Care recommend HbA1c, renal function, and lipid panels as part of baseline metabolic assessment before initiating GLP-1 therapy in patients with diabetes
Murti PR, Bhousle RB, Daftary DK, Mehta FS
Non-clinical staff can't make this call
The signal that has been building for years For years, endocrinologists have noticed something interesting in long-term diabetes patients
Im generally in favor of avoiding pills when you can, Lee notes