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D2C Peptides

Research goal

Peptides and blood sugar

Only the GLP-1 drugs on this page have large trials showing lower blood sugar: in adults with type 2 diabetes, the approved diabetes brands Ozempic, Rybelsus and Mounjaro lowered HbA1c by about 1.2 to 2.4 points.232526 The other peptides here have small, early or animal data, and growth hormone peptides can work against blood sugar control.1718 This page maps what people search with blood sugar and what published sources report on each; it makes no promise.

This page summarizes published sources for information only. It is not medical advice and does not tell anyone to use a product. Questions about your own health belong with a licensed clinician. For questions about an order or a product, contact us.

How GLP-1 medicines lower blood sugar

GLP-1 is a hormone released by the intestine that helps lower blood sugar after eating.21 GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic it: FDA describes them as stimulating insulin release, reducing blood sugar after a meal and slowing food through the digestive tract.22 Tirzepatide also activates the receptor for a second hormone, GIP.3 Two molecules account for the five brands below; each has its own page, Semaglutide and blood sugar and Tirzepatide and blood sugar.

Approved for type 2 diabetes

Ozempic

Ozempic is approved to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, with diet and exercise.1 In label trials, HbA1c fell about 1.4 to 2.1 points from a start near 8 to 9%, and semaglutide raises insulin and lowers glucagon only when blood sugar is high.23 In SUSTAIN FORTE, the 2 mg dose lowered HbA1c a further 0.18 to 0.23 points compared with 1 mg.24 See Ozempic and blood sugar and What is Ozempic?.

Rybelsus

Rybelsus tablets are approved to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, with diet and exercise.2 In a 26-week trial of 703 adults, HbA1c fell 1.2 points on 7 mg and 1.4 points on 14 mg, against 0.3 on placebo, and the 3 mg starting dose used for the first 30 days does not control blood sugar.25 See Rybelsus and blood sugar and What is Rybelsus?.

Mounjaro

Mounjaro is approved to improve blood sugar control in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes; in the five adult SURPASS trials, HbA1c fell about 1.7 to 2.4 points at 40 to 52 weeks.26 In its 40-week trial of Mounjaro alone, no patient had blood sugar below 54 mg/dL (1% on placebo), and the risk rises when it is combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea.26 See Mounjaro and blood sugar and What is Mounjaro?.

Same molecules, not approved for diabetes

Wegovy

Wegovy is not approved to treat type 2 diabetes; its indications are weight, heart risk and MASH, a fatty liver disease.8 In a 68-week trial in adults with type 2 diabetes, it lowered HbA1c by 1.6 points against 0.4 on placebo.8 See Wegovy and blood sugar and What is Wegovy?.

Zepbound

Zepbound is not approved to control blood sugar; that is a Mounjaro use of the same drug.927 In its weight trial in type 2 diabetes, HbA1c fell 2.1 points against 0.5 on placebo, and low blood sugar affected 10.3% of those also taking a sulfonylurea.2829 Read What is Zepbound?.

Investigational

Retatrutide

Retatrutide is an investigational weekly injection that activates the glucagon, GIP and GLP-1 receptors.30 Its diabetes trial result and regulatory status are in the questions above. Read What is Retatrutide?.

Early, mixed or animal data

ARA-290

In a 28-day phase 2 trial of 48 people with type 2 diabetes and nerve pain, HbA1c fell 0.21 points by day 56 against a 0.21-point rise on placebo, and blood lipids improved.3132 In diabetic rats, HbA1c fell about 20%.33 It is not an approved drug: FDA's orphan designation record lists it as not approved for its designated use, nerve pain in sarcoidosis.34 Read What is ARA-290? or see ARA-290 for sale.

MOTS-c

In mice, MOTS-c improved insulin sensitivity and lowered glucose.3536 In people, blood MOTS-c is lower on average in type 2 diabetes, an observational finding rather than a treatment result.37 Read What is MOTS-c? or see MOTS-c for sale.

Kisspeptin-10

In 15 healthy men, a kisspeptin-54 infusion increased insulin release after an intravenous glucose load.38 A registered kisspeptin-10 insulin study in 14 men, completed in 2014, has no results posted.39 Read What is Kisspeptin-10? or see Kisspeptin-10 for sale.

NAD+

The human studies reviewed tested only oral precursors, with mixed results: NMN for 10 weeks raised muscle insulin sensitivity by about 25% in women with prediabetes, while nicotinamide riboside for 12 weeks did not improve it in obese men; neither tested NAD+ injections.4041 Read What is NAD+? or see NAD+ for sale.

Epithalon

Old rhesus monkeys given epitalon had lower basal glucose and insulin and cleared a glucose load faster, while young monkeys did not change.42 None of the human studies identified by a 2026 review measured blood sugar.43 Read What is Epithalon? or see Epithalon for sale.

SS-31

A 2022 systematic review of 19 randomized trials of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, elamipretide (SS-31) among them, found limited evidence for any effect on blood sugar control.4445 In aged female mice on a high-fat, high-fructose diet, SS-31 improved insulin signaling markers and reduced liver fat.46 Read What is SS-31? or see SS-31 for sale.

AOD-9604

AOD-9604 was not tested as a diabetes treatment, but in sponsor trials it did not worsen glucose tolerance, unlike growth hormone.47 The 12-week trial suggested fewer new diabetes cases among people with impaired glucose tolerance, which the authors say needs confirmation in its own trial.48 Read What is AOD-9604? or see AOD-9604 for sale.

Vilon

One Russian abstract reported lower insulin needs in elderly people with type 1 diabetes given Vilon with standard therapy, without numbers or controls, which is far from evidence of a benefit.49 Read What is Vilon? or see Vilon for sale.

Growth hormone peptides: not blood sugar treatments

HGH

Somatropin labels warn that growth hormone can lower insulin sensitivity and unmask impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes, and new type 2 diabetes has been reported.17 Trials found more diabetes or glucose intolerance in older men given growth hormone, and more high blood sugar in adult burn patients.5051 Read What is HGH? or see HGH for sale.

Tesamorelin

The label advises glucose checks before and during treatment.52 A 12-week study in 53 people with type 2 diabetes found no change in glycemic control.5354 Read What is Tesamorelin? or see Tesamorelin for sale.

IGF-1

IGF-1 lowers blood sugar and can cause severe hypoglycemia, and its approved form is for growth failure in children, not diabetes.555657 In 7 obese patients with type 2 diabetes, high-dose recombinant IGF-1 improved control in about half, but side effects stopped every patient.5859 Read What is IGF-1? or see IGF-1 for sale.

Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin increased insulin release from rat pancreas tissue,60 but after bowel surgery in people, high blood sugar at discharge was more common with ipamorelin (14.3%) than with placebo (8.6%).19 Read What is Ipamorelin? or see Ipamorelin for sale.

CJC-1295

No study tested CJC-1295 for blood sugar control, and glucose showed no consistent change in the healthy-volunteer trials.6120 Read What is CJC-1295 with DAC? or What is CJC-1295 No DAC?, or see CJC-1295 with DAC for sale.

GHRP-2

FDA cites reports of increased insulin needs in people given GHRP-2, without established cause, and a review of this drug class notes concern about higher blood glucose from lower insulin sensitivity.6263 Read What is GHRP-2? or see GHRP-2 for sale.

GHRP-6

FDA lists a potential rise in blood glucose from decreased insulin sensitivity among its safety concerns for GHRP-6.64 Read What is GHRP-6? or see GHRP-6 for sale.

Sermorelin

Short studies found no change in fasting glucose in 110 children treated for up to a year, and no change in glucose or insulin during a glucose tolerance test in 11 older men after 6 weeks.6566 Read What is Sermorelin? or see Sermorelin for sale.

HGH Fragment 176-191

In rats, the native fragment briefly raised blood glucose and insulin in a 1978 study,67 while trials of the related AOD-9604 found no change in glucose tolerance in people.68 Read What is HGH Fragment 176-191? or see HGH Fragment 176-191 for sale.

How to read this research

The diabetes results on this page are average changes in HbA1c, mostly against placebo, from trials of hundreds of adults for the approved medicines and retatrutide, and from small or animal studies for the rest. Low blood sugar depends on what a drug is combined with: GLP-1 medicines used with insulin or an insulin secretagogue such as a sulfonylurea raise the risk of hypoglycemia, including severe episodes.1 The label results apply only to the approved products: FDA says unapproved versions of these drugs do not undergo its review for safety, effectiveness and quality, and it urges consumers not to purchase versions labeled "for research purposes" for human use, which it calls of unknown quality and possibly harmful.11 For every approved medicine here, the prescriber sets the dose, and regulatory details and complete source lists sit on each linked profile.

Compound by compound

  • Ozempic and blood sugar

    What published sources report on Ozempic and blood sugar, with links to the Ozempic profile and the blood sugar hub.

  • Mounjaro and blood sugar

    What published sources report on Mounjaro and blood sugar, with links to the Mounjaro profile and the blood sugar hub.

  • Rybelsus and blood sugar

    What published sources report on Rybelsus and blood sugar, with links to the Rybelsus profile and the blood sugar hub.

  • Wegovy and blood sugar

    What published sources report on Wegovy and blood sugar, with links to the Wegovy profile and the blood sugar hub.

  • Semaglutide and blood sugar

    What published sources report on Semaglutide and blood sugar, with links to the Semaglutide profile and the blood sugar hub.

  • Tirzepatide and blood sugar

    What published sources report on Tirzepatide and blood sugar, with links to the Tirzepatide profile and the blood sugar hub.

Other research goals

Frequently asked questions

Which GLP-1 medicines are approved for type 2 diabetes?

FDA-approved GLP-1 medicines for type 2 diabetes include Ozempic injection and tablets and Rybelsus (semaglutide), Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Victoza (liraglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), and Byetta and Bydureon BCise (exenatide).1234567 Wegovy and Zepbound, which contain semaglutide and tirzepatide, are approved for weight and related uses, not to treat diabetes.89 In each case the prescriber sets the dose.

Is retatrutide approved for diabetes?

No. As of October 2026, retatrutide is not approved by FDA or any other regulator.10 FDA says it is not a component of any approved drug, has not been found safe and effective for any condition, and cannot be used in compounding.11 In a 40-week phase 3 trial in adults with type 2 diabetes, HbA1c fell 1.69 to 1.94 percentage points against 0.81 on placebo.12 It has no established role in type 1 diabetes; one case report describes impending diabetic ketoacidosis in a person with type 1 diabetes who used online-sourced retatrutide.1213

Has any peptide been tested in prediabetes?

A few. In adults with obesity and prediabetes followed for about 3 years, 1.3% on tirzepatide developed type 2 diabetes against 13.3% on placebo; this is research data, not an approved use.14 A phase 2a trial of MOTS-c in adults with prediabetes began in February 2026 and has no results yet.15 A Swedish trial of ARA-290 on glucose tolerance in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes has unknown status and no posted results.16

Can growth hormone peptides raise blood sugar?

They can work against it. Growth hormone can lower insulin sensitivity, and its labels warn it can unmask impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes.17 In tesamorelin's label trials, 5% developed an HbA1c of 6.5% or higher against 1% on placebo.18 FDA says the glucose intolerance and diabetes risks on growth hormone labels may also apply to growth hormone-releasing peptides such as ipamorelin and CJC-1295.1920

Written by D2C Peptides Editorial Team.

Pending qualified review.

Updated .

Sources

  1. OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection, prescribing information (revised 5/2026). U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed (label by Novo Nordisk), 2026.
  2. RYBELSUS and OZEMPIC (semaglutide) tablets, prescribing information (revised 1/2026). U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed (label by Novo Nordisk), 2026.
  3. MOUNJARO (tirzepatide) injection, prescribing information (revised 8/2026). U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed (label by Eli Lilly), 2026.
  4. VICTOZA (liraglutide) injection, prescribing information (revised 10/2025). U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed (label by Novo Nordisk), 2025.
  5. TRULICITY (dulaglutide) injection, prescribing information (revised 3/2026). U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed (label by Eli Lilly), 2026.
  6. BYETTA (exenatide) injection, prescribing information (revised 9/2025). U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed (label by AstraZeneca), 2025.
  7. BYDUREON BCISE (exenatide extended-release) injectable suspension, prescribing information (revised 5/2025). U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed (label by AstraZeneca), 2025.
  8. WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection and WEGOVY (semaglutide) tablets: Full Prescribing Information, Medication Guide and Instructions for Use (revised 06/2026). U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Novo Nordisk labeling), 2026.
  9. Zepbound Prescribing Information, revised 08/2026 (NDA 217806/S-041): Section 1 Indications and Usage. Eli Lilly and Company; posted by U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026.
  10. Is retatrutide available in the consumer market? (Lilly Medical answer, last reviewed August 4, 2026). Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly Medical), 2026.
  11. FDA's Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026.
  12. Efficacy and safety of retatrutide, a GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptor agonist, in people with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycaemic control with diet and exercise (TRANSCEND-T2D-1): a double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial. The Lancet (PubMed record, National Library of Medicine), 2026.
  13. Online-Sourced Retatrutide Complicating Impending Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a Patient With Type 1 Diabetes and Concurrent Shigella Gastroenteritis. Cureus (PubMed record, National Library of Medicine), 2026.
  14. Jastreboff AM et al. Tirzepatide for Obesity Treatment and Diabetes Prevention (SURMOUNT-1, 3-year). N Engl J Med 2025;392(10):958-971. PMID 39536238, doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2410819 (PubMed record). New England Journal of Medicine (record via NCBI PubMed E-utilities), 2025.
  15. MOTS-c for Improving Insulin Sensitivity in Adults With Prediabetes and Overweight/Obesity (NCT07505745), Phase 2a, sponsor Hudson Biotech. ClinicalTrials.gov (NLM), 2026.
  16. ARA290 in T2D (Effects of ARA 290, an Erythropoietin Analogue) in Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes (NCT01933529). ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2015.
  17. GENOTROPIN prescribing information: 5.4 Impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Drugs@FDA label, Pfizer), 2025.
  18. EGRIFTA WR prescribing information: 6.1 diabetes risk. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Drugs@FDA label, BLA 022505), 2025.
  19. FDA Briefing Document, Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee Meeting, October 29, 2024: Ipamorelin-Related Bulk Drug Substances (Ipamorelin (free base) and Ipamorelin Acetate), including FDA Evaluation dated 8/19/2024. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2024.
  20. FDA Briefing Document, PCAC December 4, 2024, CJC-1295 evaluation (PDF page 42, Ionescu adverse events and GH-related risks). U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, 2024.
  21. FDA Requests Removal of Suicidal Behavior and Ideation Warning from Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA) Medications (Drug Safety Communication, 01-13-2026). U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026.
  22. Update on FDA's ongoing evaluation of reports of suicidal thoughts or actions in patients taking a certain type of medicines approved for type 2 diabetes and obesity (Drug Safety Communication, 01-11-2024). U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2024.
  23. Same source as 1: solution: prescribing information, Medication Guide and Instructions for Use (Revised 5/2026, SPL version 20).
  24. Frias JP et al. Efficacy and safety of once-weekly semaglutide 2.0 mg versus 1.0 mg in patients with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN FORTE). Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2021;9(9):563-574. PubMed (NCBI, NLM), 2021.
  25. RYBELSUS and OZEMPIC (semaglutide) tablets, Prescribing Information and Medication Guide (NDA 213051/S-030, revised 1/2026). U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Novo Nordisk labeling), 2026.
  26. MOUNJARO (tirzepatide) injection Prescribing Information, Medication Guide and Instructions for Use, revised 08/2026 (NDA 215866/S-044, S-045). U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Drugs@FDA), 2026.
  27. Same source as 26: Mounjaro Prescribing Information, revised 08/2026 (NDA 215866/S-044, S-045): Indications, glycemic control.
  28. Same source as 9: Section 14.1 Weight Reduction Studies 1, 2 and 3 (Tables 2 to 5).
  29. Same source as 9: Sections 5.2 to 5.10 Warnings and Precautions.
  30. LY3437943, a novel triple glucagon, GIP, and GLP-1 receptor agonist for glycemic control and weight loss: From discovery to clinical proof of concept. Cell Metabolism (PubMed record, National Library of Medicine), 2022.
  31. ARA 290, a nonerythropoietic peptide engineered from erythropoietin, improves metabolic control and neuropathic symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes (PubMed abstract, PMID 25387363). Molecular Medicine, via NCBI PubMed (E-utilities), 2015.
  32. ARA 290, a nonerythropoietic peptide engineered from erythropoietin, improves metabolic control and neuropathic symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes (Brines M, et al.; full text). Molecular Medicine, via PubMed Central, 2015.
  33. ARA290 Improves Insulin Release and Glucose Tolerance in Type 2 Diabetic Goto-Kakizaki Rats (Muller C, et al.). Molecular Medicine, via PubMed Central, 2016.
  34. Orphan designation record: L-pyr-L-glu-L-gln-L-leu-L-glu-L-arg-L-ala-L-leu-L-asn-L-ser-L-ser, treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with sarcoidosis. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Search Orphan Drug Designations and Approvals, 2011.
  35. FDA Briefing Document: Evaluation of MOTS-c-Related Bulk Drug Substances, PCAC July 23-24, 2026 (insulin sensitivity, summary of Lee et al. 2015). U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026.
  36. Same source as 35: 2026 (summary of Kim et al. 2019).
  37. The correlation between mitochondrial derived peptide (MDP) and metabolic states: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Zhou et al.). Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, 2024.
  38. The effects of kisspeptin on β-cell function, serum metabolites and appetite in humans (Izzi-Engbeaya et al.), abstract. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (PubMed record via NCBI E-utilities), 2018.
  39. NCT03771326: KP-10 and Insulin Secretion in Men. ClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2014.
  40. Nicotinamide mononucleotide increases muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women (Yoshino et al.). Science (via PMC author manuscript), 2021.
  41. A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of nicotinamide riboside in obese men: safety, insulin-sensitivity, and lipid-mobilizing effects (Dollerup et al.). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (PubMed abstract via NCBI E-utilities), 2018.
  42. Goncharova ND, et al. Pineal peptides restore the age-related disturbances in hormonal functions of the pineal gland and the pancreas. Exp Gerontol. 2005;40(1-2):51-7. Experimental Gerontology; abstract via PubMed, NLM, 2005.
  43. Jain A, et al. Epitalon and Epithalamin: A Narrative Review of Mechanistic, Preclinical, and Clinical Evidence. Int J Mol Sci. 2026;27(19):8922 (PMC13664938). International Journal of Molecular Sciences (MDPI), 2026.
  44. Effect of mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants on glycaemic control, cardiovascular health, and oxidative stress in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (results). Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (PubMed abstract, PMID 35165982), 2022.
  45. Same source as 44: Mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants in humans: systematic review (safety and conclusion).
  46. MitoQ and SS-31 in aged female mice with MASLD (insulin signaling and liver fat). Physiological Research (PubMed abstract, PMID 42708867), 2026.
  47. Stier 2013: abstract, glucose tolerance result. Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 3(1-2):7-15, 2013.
  48. Same source as 47: discussion, impaired glucose tolerance.
  49. Effect of vilon on the immunity status and coagulation hemostasis in patients of different age with diabetes mellitus. Advances in Gerontology, 2007.
  50. Blackman MR et al. 2002 (PMID 12425705): diabetes and glucose intolerance. JAMA, via PubMed (NCBI E-utilities), 2002.
  51. Breederveld RS, Tuinebreijer WE 2014 (PMID 25222766): hyperglycaemia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, via PubMed (NCBI E-utilities), 2014.
  52. Same source as 18: 5.4 Glucose Intolerance or Diabetes Mellitus (monitoring).
  53. Safety and metabolic effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue, in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial (Clemmons DR et al.): design. PLoS One (PubMed abstract via NCBI E-utilities), 2017.
  54. Same source as 53: Tesamorelin in type 2 diabetes (Clemmons DR et al., 2017): conclusion.
  55. INCRELEX prescribing information revised 07/2025: 12.2 Pharmacodynamics (carbohydrate metabolism). U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Drugs@FDA label, BLA 021839), 2025.
  56. Same source as 55: 5.1 Hypoglycemia.
  57. Same source as 55: INCRELEX (mecasermin) injection, prescribing information revised 07/2025: Highlights, Indications and Usage.
  58. Jabri et al. 1994, abstract: conclusion. Diabetes (PubMed PMID 8314009), 1994.
  59. Same source as 58: discontinuation.
  60. Adeghate E, Ponery AS. Mechanism of ipamorelin-evoked insulin release from the pancreas of normal and diabetic rats (PubMed abstract, PMID 15665799). Neuro Endocrinology Letters, 2004.
  61. FDA Briefing Document, PCAC December 4, 2024, CJC-1295 evaluation (PDF page 41, adverse events in Teichman 2006). U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, 2024.
  62. Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks (content current as of 04/22/2026). U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026.
  63. The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Secretagogues (Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW). Sexual Medicine Reviews, PubMed Central, 2018.
  64. Same source as 62.
  65. Once daily subcutaneous growth hormone-releasing hormone therapy accelerates growth in growth hormone-deficient children (Thorner et al.), response and tolerability. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (PubMed abstract PMID 8772599, via NCBI E-utilities), 1996.
  66. Effects of single nightly injections of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-29) in healthy elderly men (Vittone et al.), body composition and safety. Metabolism (PubMed abstract PMID 9005976, via NCBI E-utilities), 1997.
  67. Hyperglycemic action of synthetic C-terminal fragments of human growth hormone (Ng FM, Bornstein J), PubMed abstract. American Journal of Physiology (via PubMed, NLM), 1978.
  68. Same source as 47: Safety and Tolerability of the Hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in Humans (Stier H, Vos E, Kenley D); authors tied to the developer, Metabolic Pharmaceuticals.