Retatrutide is a new type of weight-loss injection that’s still being tested. The early results suggest retatrutide might help people prevent type 2 diabetes as well as helping them lose weight. Here, we’ll talk you through what we know so far.
How type 2 diabetes develops
Type 2 diabetes happens when you don’t have enough of a hormone called insulin, or if your insulin doesn’t work as well as it should (sometimes called insulin resistance). Insulin is an important hormone because it helps your body to use the sugar in your food as energy.
This means that if you have type 2 diabetes, the amount of sugar in your blood gets too high. Over time, having high blood sugar can cause problems such as nerve damage or eye problems.
You’ll be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes if a blood test shows your blood sugar is higher than it should be.
If your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough to diagnose diabetes, you might be told you have ‘prediabetes’. This means you’re at higher risk of developing diabetes, but you don’t have it yet.
Key takeaways
- Retatrutide isn't approved yet but shows promise for diabetes prevention and management
- It targets three hormones (GLP-1, GIP, glucagon) that regulate blood sugar, appetite, and fat burning
- Clinical trials show significant improvements in blood sugar control, with most people with prediabetes returning to normal levels
- Phase 3 trials are testing retatrutide specifically for people with type 2 diabetes
- Current options like Wegovy and Mounjaro are proven effective for people with or at risk of type 2 diabetes
What early research shows so far
Early research looking at retatrutide for people with type 2 diabetes has found it improves:
- Blood glucose (blood sugar levels)
- Fasting glucose (blood sugar levels before eating)
- HbA1c (a measure of blood sugar over a few months).
One study found that 72% of people with prediabetes who took retatrutide for 48 weeks had normal blood sugar levels by the end of the trial.
Why retatrutide might reduce diabetes risk
Retatrutide works by acting in the same way as three hormones that your body makes naturally. These are GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. Together, these hormones work to regulate blood sugar, reduce your appetite, slow down your digestion, and help your body burn fat.
If it’s approved, it will be the only weight-loss medication to mimic all three of these hormones.
Research shows that retatrutide might be able to help reduce the risk of diabetes in certain people. It seems to do this by:
Improving insulin sensitivity
Retatrutide may help your body make more insulin and use it better. The research that has been done on retatrutide so far shows that many people had better blood sugar control while taking it.
Reducing liver fat
Having insulin resistance can mean you store more fat in your liver than is healthy. This can make you more at risk of developing diabetes. Retatrutide seems to help people lose fat from their liver.
In fact, at the 12mg dose, more than 85% achieved normal liver fat levels after 24-48 weeks.
Supporting weight loss and metabolic health
If you have high blood sugar and you’re overweight, then losing weight can often help reduce your blood sugar and stop you developing diabetes. We also know that weight loss is linked to better metabolic health, such as healthier levels of fat in the blood.
Retatrutide seems to help people lose a significant amount of weight. Early research suggests people lose an average of 24.2% of their body weight in 48 weeks of taking it.
Is retatrutide available for diabetes on the NHS?
Retatrutide isn’t approved yet, which means it’s not available on the NHS or privately. If tests show that it’s safe and effective, it will probably become available in the UK in 2026 at the earliest.
If retatrutide is approved, NHS access will likely be phased and have stricter criteria than private care. It may involve higher BMI thresholds and defined referral routes, similar to Wegovy and Mounjaro.
Is retatrutide safe for people without diabetes?
We don’t yet know if retatrutide is safe for anyone as Phase 3 trials are still in progress. However, the research we have so far suggests that most people’s side effects are not serious. This is true for people who have diabetes and those who don’t.
In trials, the most common symptoms have been digestive problems, such as feeling sick, being sick, diarrhoea, and constipation. These symptoms seem to increase as people adjust to their dose.
Retatrutide will only be approved for use once scientists are very confident it’s safe.
Side effects support at Voy
"If you're using Voy and you experience any side effects, rest assured that our expert clinicians are just a message or phone call away. They can adjust your dose, prescribe medication to ease your symptoms, or simply offer reassurance.
Everyone responds differently to weight loss treatment and we'll help you find what feels right for you."
Your weight loss journey
Early research on retatrutide suggests it might be a useful medication for people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes in the future. But until it’s been fully tested, we can’t know for sure.
If you’re interested in taking medication for weight loss or blood sugar control, there are plenty of good options already available, like Wegovy or Mounjaro.
Take our quiz to see if weight-loss medication might be right for you.
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