GLP-1 Injectable Use Among Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes: United States, 2024

NCHS Data Brief No. 537, August 2025

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Anjel Vahratian, Ph.D., M.P.H., and Antonia Warren, M.S.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a type of drug that mimics a hormone in the body which helps to lower blood sugar and support weight loss (1). GLP-1 medications are typically administered as an injection to treat type 2 diabetes (1). This report describes the percentage of adults with diagnosed diabetes who were taking an injectable GLP-1 medication at the time of interview by selected characteristics, based on data from the 2024 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Survey respondents were assumed to be using a GLP-1 injectable if they had diabetes and reported use of an injectable medication other than insulin to lower blood sugar or lose weight.

Keywords: incretin mimetics; glycemic control; semaglutide; dulaglutide; National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

GLP-1 injectable use was similar among men and women but varied by age group.

• In 2024, more than one in four adults with diagnosed diabetes used GLP-1 injectables (26.5%) (Figure 1, Table 1). No significant difference was seen in the use of GLP-1 injectables between women (27.2%) and men (25.9%).
• The percentage of adults with diagnosed diabetes who used GLP-1 injectables increased with age from 18-34 (25.3%) to 50-64 (33.3%) and then decreased among those age 65 and older (20.8%).

GLP-1 injectable use varied by race and Hispanic origin.

• Nearly one in three Hispanic adults with diagnosed diabetes used GLP-1 injectables (31.3%) (Figure 2, Table 2). Hispanic adults, Black non-Hispanic (subsequently, Black) adults (26.5%), and White non-Hispanic (subsequently, White) adults (26.2%) with diagnosed diabetes were more likely than Asian non-Hispanic (subsequently, Asian) adults with diagnosed diabetes (12.1%) to use GLP-1 injectables.
• The percentage of adults with diagnosed diabetes who used GLP-1 injectables ranged from 24.2% among those with family incomes from 100% to less than 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 29.0% among those with family incomes at 400% FPL or more. However, differences in GLP-1 injectable use across family income were not significant.

GLP-1 injectable use varied by body mass index.

• GLP-1 injectable use was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) levels, from 16.7% among adults with diagnosed diabetes who had a healthy weight to 32.4% among those who had obesity (Figure 3, Table 3). The estimate for underweight did not meet NCHS standards of reliability.

GLP-1 injectable use varied by concurrent use of diabetic medications.

• Nearly one in three adults with diagnosed diabetes who reported taking insulin (31.3%) also used GLP-1 injectables (Figure 4, Table 4). More than one in four adults with diagnosed diabetes who took oral glucose-lowering medications (28.1%) also used GLP-1 injectables. GLP-1 injectable use was higher among those who took insulin or oral glucose-lowering medications compared with those who did not take those diabetic medications (24.5% and 22.2%, respectively).

Summary

In 2024, 26.5% of adults with diagnosed diabetes used GLP-1 injectables to lower blood sugar or lose weight. One in three adults ages 50-64 (33.3%) used GLP-1 injectables, and use was more common among adults with higher BMIs. In recent years, public awareness and use of GLP-1 medications has rapidly grown (2,3). An analysis of data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey showed a 155% increase in the percentage of adults with type 2 diabetes who used GLP-1 injectables from 2018 (7.6%) to 2022 (19.4%) (2). Concurrently, spending on GLP-1 medications increased by more than 500% from 2018 to 2023, based on data from retail and mail-order prescription fills (4).

Definitions

Body mass index (BMI): Based on responses to the following two survey questions: "How tall are you without shoes?" and "How much do you weigh?" Data from these two questions are used to compute a BMI measure in kilograms divided by meters squared. BMI classifications are: underweight, BMI less than 18.5; healthy weight, BMI of 18.5 to less than 25.0; overweight, BMI of 25.0 to less than 30.0; and obesity, BMI of 30.0 or more (5).

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) injectable use: Based on a yes response to the survey question, "Other than insulin, are you taking any injectable medications to lower your blood sugar or lose weight?" The survey included the following statement that could be read by interviewers if needed: "These medications include GLP-1 injectables, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, Victoza, Trulicity, Mounjaro, and Byetta."

Race and ethnicity: Adults categorized as Hispanic may be of any race or combination of races. Non-Hispanic adults categorized as Asian, Black, or White indicated one race only. Estimates for non-Hispanic adults of races other than Asian, Black, and White are not shown due to the inability to make statistically reliable estimates for these groups, but they are included in total estimates.

Data source and methods

Data from the 2024 NHIS were used for this analysis. NHIS is a nationally representative household survey of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. It is conducted continuously throughout the year by the National Center for Health Statistics. Interviews are typically initiated face-to-face in respondents' homes, but follow-ups to complete interviews may be conducted over the telephone (6). For more information on the survey, visit the NHIS website: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/index.htm.

Point estimates and the corresponding confidence intervals for this analysis were calculated using SAS-callable SUDAAN software (7) to account for the complex sample design of NHIS. All estimates are based on self-report and meet National Center for Health Statistics data presentation standards for proportions (8). Differences between percentages were evaluated using two-sided significance tests at the 0.05 level. Linear and quadratic trends by age group, family income, and BMI were evaluated using orthogonal polynomials.

About the authors

Anjel Vahratian and Antonia Warren are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health Interview Statistics.

References

1. American Diabetes Association. Oral & injectable medications for Type 2 diabetes. Available from: https://diabetes.org/health-wellness/medication/oral-other-injectable-diabetes-medications.
2. Hegland TA, Fang Z, Bucher K. GLP-1 medication use for Type 2 diabetes has soared. JAMA. 2024;332(12):952-3.
3. Montero A, Sparks G, Presiado M, Hamel L. KFF health tracking poll May 2024: The public's use and views of GLP-1 drugs. Available from: https://www.kff.org/health-costs/pollfinding/kff-health-tracking-poll-may-2024-the-publics-use-and-views-of-glp-1-drugs/.
4. Tsipas S, Khan T, Loustalot F, Myftari K, Wozniak G. Spending on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists among US adults. JAMA Network Open. 2025;8(4):e252964.
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BMI: Adult BMI categories. 2024 Mar 19. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/adult-calculator/bmi-categories.html.
6. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 2024 survey description. 2025 Jul. Available from: https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Dataset_Documentation/NHIS/2024/srvydesc-508.pdf.
7. RTI International. SUDAAN (Release 11.0.3) [computer software]. 2018.
8. Parker JD, Talih M, Malec DJ, Beresovsky V, Carroll M, Gonzalez JF Jr, et al. National Center for Health Statistics data presentation standards for proportions. Vital Health Stat 2. 2017 Aug;(175):1-22.

Suggested citation

Vahratian A, Warren A. GLP-1 injectable use among adults with diagnosed diabetes: United States, 2024. NCHS Data Brief. 2025 Aug;(537):1-8. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174616.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health Statistics

Brian C. Moyer, Ph.D., Director
Amy M. Branum, Ph.D., Associate Director for Science

Division of Health Interview Statistics

Stephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D., Director
Anjel Vahratian, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Director for Science