Liraglutide

Liraglutide is an injectable medication that is sometimes given to patients with Type 2 diabetes along with oral medications to help keep blood sugar levels under control. This medication stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin when blood sugar levels rise too high. It cannot be used for Type 1 diabetes because this type of diabetes involves the complete inability to produce insulin.

Side Effects/Warnings

This medication can cause thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer. This type of cancer can be fatal if not detected or treated early. Patients may have to have the thyroid gland removed in order to treat this cancer.

Patients who have a family history of thyroid disease and thyroid cancer are at greater risk for developing cancer while on this medication.