GLP-1 Drugs in Young Diabetes Patients: Registry Study Tracks Rise

Registry Data Shows Rising Prescriptions in Youth

Prescriptions of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications for children and young adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) increased more than fourfold between 2019 and 2025. Researchers presented these findings at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy.

The observational study examined real-world clinical records from the Diabetes Prospective Follow-up (DPV) registry. This multicountry tracking database records care patterns across pediatric and adult specialized diabetes centers in Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg.

Study Scope and Patient Population Demographics

The analysis evaluated 1,878 individuals between the ages of 6 and 24 who received clinical care for type 2 diabetes. Within this full group, the median age was 16.3 years, 54% were female, and 37% had an immigrant background.

A total of 388 individuals in the registry received a prescription for a GLP-1 RA or a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 RA agent such as tirzepatide. Overall prescription frequency climbed across all evaluated pediatric and young adult brackets by 2025.

• Ages 6 to under 12: 14% received a GLP-1 RA prescription in 2025.
• Ages 12 to under 18: 28% received a GLP-1 RA prescription in 2025.
• Ages 18 to 24: 29% received a GLP-1 RA prescription in 2025.

Prescribed Medications and Treatment Durations

Liraglutide was the most frequently prescribed agent across the registry cohort during the observation window. In 2025, liraglutide accounted for 43.4% of all GLP-1 RA prescriptions among young patients in the registry, representing 11.8% of the total pediatric and young adult type 2 diabetes cohort.

A detailed sub-analysis tracked 240 patients who completed at least two specialized clinic visits, with a median treatment duration of 11 months. In this longitudinal cohort, clinicians most commonly prescribed GLP-1 RAs alongside metformin, shifting agent selection gradually over the follow-up period.

• Liraglutide: used by 70% of the longitudinal group at the first visit and 63% at the last visit.
• Dulaglutide: used by 15% at the first visit and 17% at the last visit.
• Semaglutide: used by 10% at the first visit and 17% at the last visit.
• Tirzepatide: used by 4% at the first visit and 8% at the last visit.

Clinical Context and Observational Limitations

Registry analyses document clinical prescribing behavior under routine conditions rather than controlled experimental endpoints. European regulatory agencies approved GLP-1 RAs for pediatric type 2 diabetes starting at age 10 in 2019, later granting approvals for weight management in older children with obesity.

Study lead Dr. Marie Auzanneau of Ulm University noted that an estimated 200,000 young people in Germany live with severe obesity and related complications. The researchers pointed to health insurance reimbursement hurdles and concerns regarding adverse effects as continuing factors that constrain wider clinical uptake. Families evaluating these medications should talk to their clinician about regional approval criteria, appropriate monitoring, and coverage rules.