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What's New
PubMed · December 31, 2026
Researchers found that when people with obesity and type 2 diabetes received a fecal microbiota transplant — a procedure where gut bacteria from a healthy donor are transferred to another person — changes in the gut's viral community (the collection of viruses naturally living in the digestive system) were just as good as changes in bacteria at predicting who responded well to treatment, particularly in terms of LDL (often called 'bad' cholesterol) levels. This suggests that the viruses living in the gut may play an important role alongside bacteria in how well the body responds to this kind of treatment, which could help explain why some people benefit more than others. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · December 1, 2026
A study found that people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure who lost weight through a dietary program — about 25 pounds on average over 12 months — were able to cut back on their high blood pressure medications, yet their blood pressure stayed just as well controlled as before. In fact, their heart rate and certain measures of blood pressure fluctuation during the night also improved. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that people with type 2 diabetes and severe obesity who had weight-loss surgery were still experiencing diabetes remission — meaning their blood sugar returned to a healthy range without medication — up to 10 years later. One type of surgery called gastric bypass showed stronger results in the early years, but by the 10-year mark, the differences between surgery types had narrowed. Researchers also looked at which factors best predicted who would stay in remission long-term, which could help doctors and patients make better decisions about surgery. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that people taking a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza may lose more body fat compared to other treatments, but the findings were mixed and inconsistent across studies. Interestingly, questions remain about whether these medications also affect muscle — both how much muscle people have and how well it functions — which matters because losing muscle along with fat can affect strength and overall health. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that retatrutide — an experimental weight-loss medication not yet widely available — helped improve several markers linked to heart health in people with obesity, both with and without type 2 diabetes. Researchers found it significantly lowered unhealthy fats and cholesterol-related particles in the blood, which are things that can raise a person's risk of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes. This appears to be a new and still-investigational option, as the findings come from early-phase trials testing how the drug works in the body.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
A study found that certain weight-loss surgeries — particularly one called one-anastomosis gastric bypass — were significantly better than sleeve gastrectomy (a common procedure that removes part of the stomach) at improving type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure in people with obesity. The study, which analyzed data from over 61,000 patients across 55 studies, also found that sleeve gastrectomy was more likely to cause new acid reflux problems compared to other surgical options. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed (Open Access Guidelines) · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that not everyone loses the same amount of weight when taking a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza, and this study looked into why that might be. People who tend to see less weight loss include men, older adults, those with higher starting body weight, and those with poorer blood sugar control (A1C) — and even gut bacteria and certain genes may play a role. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed (Open Access Guidelines) · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that improving sleep quality — specifically through a structured program called cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), which uses mental and behavioral techniques to help people sleep better — was linked to meaningful reductions in body weight and body mass index (a measure of body weight relative to height) in people with obesity or who were overweight. The programs also appeared to help people eat fewer calories each day, which could be part of why the weight changes occurred. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed (Open Access Guidelines) · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that taking short activity breaks — especially brief walks — during long periods of sitting helped lower blood sugar levels after meals in adults, particularly those with type 2 diabetes. Breaking up sitting time every 15 to 20 minutes seemed to produce the biggest improvements in blood sugar control, meaning the body didn't have to work as hard to manage sugar in the bloodstream after eating. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that eating peanuts regularly changed certain fats circulating in the blood, and people who had more of these peanut-related blood fats were less likely to develop type 2 diabetes — a condition where the body struggles to manage blood sugar. Interestingly, part of this connection seemed to be linked to body weight, suggesting that peanuts may influence diabetes risk at least partly by affecting how the body stores or uses fat. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes who had higher blood levels of a substance called IL-6 — a marker of inflammation, meaning the body's immune system is in an overactive state — were significantly more likely to develop heart failure, which is when the heart can't pump blood as well as it should. Interestingly, this link was even stronger in people who had no prior history of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes. The study also found that an intensive lifestyle program focused on weight loss helped lower IL-6 levels more than standard diabetes education did. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · November 1, 2026
Researchers found that weight-loss surgery (sometimes called bariatric or metabolic surgery) may do a better job than medications — including a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza — at reducing serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity, with benefits that held up even after 5 years. The surgery also appeared to improve related risk factors like blood sugar level (A1C), cholesterol, and body weight more than medication alone. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether bariatric surgery might provide better long-term heart protection for the patient compared to medications like GLP-1 drugs, given the patient's type 2 diabetes and weight situation.
Lifestyle
JAMA · October 27, 2026
A study found that people with fatty liver disease who followed a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet — meaning they ate very few carbs like bread, pasta, and sugar while focusing on fats and proteins — and lost 10% of their body weight saw improvements in their liver health. Researchers compared this eating approach against two other diets (a Mediterranean diet and a very low-fat, plant-based diet) to see which was most effective at reducing fat buildup in the liver.
What's New
PubMed · October 23, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza may help people with fatty liver disease by reducing the amount of fat stored in the liver, lowering body weight, and improving blood sugar level (A1C) — which is a measure of how well blood sugar has been managed over time. The study also found improvements in liver enzyme levels, which doctors use as a sign of how much stress or damage the liver is under. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 16, 2026
Researchers found that retatrutide, an experimental weight-loss drug, not only helped people with obesity lose weight but also changed the levels of certain fats and chemical compounds in the blood in ways that may reflect improved metabolism — meaning the body's process of converting food into energy. The drug appeared to have the strongest effect on these blood markers in people with obesity who did not also have type 2 diabetes, compared to those who did. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 16, 2026
Researchers found that physical exercise may boost the body's natural production of tiny proteins made inside cells — called mitochondrial-derived peptides — that help the body manage energy and respond to stress. In people with type 2 diabetes, higher levels of these proteins were linked to better blood sugar control and improved sensitivity to insulin, meaning the body may use insulin more effectively. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
ScienceDaily · October 15, 2026
A press release from Rutgers researchers highlights that Ozempic and Wegovy — popular medications used for type 2 diabetes and weight loss — have been linked to a small but real risk of a rare condition that can cause sudden, and possibly permanent, vision loss. The overall risk is still considered very low, but researchers believe it's important to pay attention to as more and more people start using these medications. This appears to be a safety-related finding rather than a guideline update or new treatment approval.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should watch for any signs of sudden vision problems while taking Ozempic, and what symptoms would mean the patient needs to get help right away.
What's New
PubMed · October 10, 2026
Researchers found that a new injectable medication called retatrutide helped adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes lose a significant amount of body weight over about 80 weeks, while also improving their blood sugar control (A1C). The drug works similarly to a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza but targets additional pathways in the body, which may make it more powerful for weight loss. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether retatrutide might be a treatment option worth considering for the patient's type 2 diabetes and weight management, since research shows it helped people lose weight and lower their blood sugar.
Medications
NEJM · October 1, 2026
A study examined survodutide, a once-weekly injectable medication (similar in type to a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza), in people living with both obesity and type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that it helped with weight loss and blood sugar control in this group. This appears to be a new treatment option that is still being evaluated, rather than a safety update or guideline recommendation.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza may have effects on bones, muscles, and joints in people with type 2 diabetes or obesity — but until now, those effects weren't well understood. This large review pulled together data from 60 studies and over 1.2 million people to get a clearer picture of how these medications affect the body beyond just blood sugar control. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that adults over 55 who received monthly one-on-one nutrition counseling over three months lost about 4–6 centimeters (roughly 2 inches) from their waist size and also saw improvements in body weight and blood sugar control. People who also used a digital app and wearable devices moved more each week — about 55 extra MET-minutes, which is roughly equivalent to adding 10–15 minutes of brisk walking daily — compared to those who only had counseling. The nutrition counseling alone drove most of the health improvements, while the digital tools helped people with obesity get more physically active but didn't add extra metabolic benefits on top of that in just three months.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that tirzepatide (sold as Zepbound or Mounjaro) helped people with obesity lose about 4 more pounds and a greater percentage of body weight compared to semaglutide — a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza — also used for weight loss. Tirzepatide was also better at improving blood sugar level (A1C), and more people taking it reached meaningful weight-loss milestones like losing 10%, 15%, or 20% of their body weight. However, serious side effects were reported more often with tirzepatide, so anyone considering these medications should talk through the risks and benefits with their doctor. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether tirzepatide might help the patient lose more weight than semaglutide, based on recent research comparing the two medications.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that a drug called bimagrumab — which works differently from most weight-loss treatments by targeting muscle and fat tissue directly — helped people with obesity lose fat while actually gaining muscle mass at the same time, which is a combination that's rarely seen with other treatments. The drug also modestly improved blood sugar level (A1C), but there was a downside: it raised LDL cholesterol (the 'bad' kind that can build up in arteries) and more people stopped taking it compared to those on a placebo, suggesting some tolerability concerns. This could matter for people with obesity because preserving or building muscle while losing fat may support better long-term health outcomes, though the cholesterol finding is worth watching closely. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
A study found that people with type 2 diabetes who added a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza (semaglutide) to a reduced dose of their basal insulin — a long-acting background insulin — had better blood sugar level (A1C), lost significantly more weight (about 8.5 kg more on average), and needed much less insulin compared to people who simply adjusted their insulin dose on its own. Researchers also found that serious low blood sugar episodes were nearly cut in half in the combination group, though stomach-related side effects like nausea were more common. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether adding semaglutide (Ozempic) to a lower dose of insulin glargine might help the patient better control blood sugar while losing weight and needing less insulin than just increasing the insulin dose alone.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that mazdutide, a newer medication being studied for obesity and type 2 diabetes, helped people lose meaningful amounts of body weight and improved their blood sugar level (A1C) — a measure of how well blood sugar has been managed over the past few months. It also showed improvements in waist size, cholesterol, and liver health markers, though it did cause more stomach-related side effects like nausea compared to other treatments. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · October 1, 2026
Researchers found that eating a high-protein meal from animal sources — like meat or dairy — raised levels of certain building blocks of protein in the blood (called branched-chain amino acids) more than a high-protein meal from plant sources did, in people with overweight or obesity. Scientists are interested in this because high levels of these amino acids have been linked in earlier research to a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, both types of high-protein meals actually led to slightly lower blood sugar levels after eating compared to a standard meal, which was an unexpected bright spot. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 30, 2026
Researchers found that eating a lot of sugar is consistently linked to a higher risk of 18 different health problems, with the strongest evidence connecting sugar intake to type 2 diabetes, obesity, serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, and early death. For people with type 2 diabetes especially, this matters because sugar consumption may worsen blood sugar control and raise the chances of complications beyond diabetes alone. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
The Lancet · September 29, 2026
A study found that a medication called retatrutide helped adults with both obesity and type 2 diabetes lose a significant amount of body weight, while also improving their blood sugar control (A1C). Retatrutide works similarly to a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza, and its side effects were in line with what researchers have seen with that type of drug. This appears to be a new treatment option still being studied, as this was a phase 3 trial — one of the later stages of research before a drug can be approved for wider use.
What's New
ScienceDaily · September 26, 2026
A press release describes findings suggesting that tirzepatide — the drug sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound — may activate a special type of body fat called brown fat, which burns calories to produce heat rather than storing them. Most people know these drugs help with weight loss by reducing appetite, but this finding hints they may also boost the body's calorie-burning engine in a separate way, which could help explain why they work so powerfully for people with obesity. This is early research done in mice and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
ScienceDaily · September 24, 2026
A press release highlights new findings suggesting that children taking a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza for weight loss or blood sugar concerns may be at risk of not getting enough key nutrients. Researchers found that nearly 1 in 6 young patients developed a nutritional deficiency — such as low vitamin D — within a year of starting the medication. This appears to be a safety concern that hasn't received much attention yet, and families may want to be aware of it.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should get blood tests to check for vitamin D or other nutritional deficiencies if the patient starts taking a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic or Saxenda.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.