Tirzepatide antidiabetic drug bound to receptor, illustration - stock illustration

Illustration of tirzepatide (red) bound to a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) transmembrane receptor (blue and purple) in a cell membrane (horizontal). Tirzepatide is a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes and for weight management. It functions as a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist (mimic). GIP and GLP-1 are natural hormones secreted in the gastrointestinal tract when we eat. Binding of GLP-1 and GIP to their receptors increases the production of insulin, the hormone that lowers blood sugar levels, while also suppressing secretion of glucagon, the hormone that raises blood sugar levels. It also reduces hunger and slows gastric emptying