European journal of pharmacologyMar 29, 2026

How Genetic Differences in the GLP-1 Receptor May Affect Diabetes and Obesity Treatments

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 30, 2026

Abstract

Genetic polymorphisms in the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) may influence individual responses to GLP-1R agonists.

GLP-1R is crucial for regulating glucose, energy balance, and appetite.
It serves as an important target for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Variations in GLP-1R genes can affect how the receptor is expressed and how well it binds to ligands.
These genetic differences may impact both the effectiveness of GLP-1R therapies and the risk of side effects.
Understanding GLP-1R polymorphisms could enhance personalized medicine approaches in diabetes treatment.

Simplified

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is a class B G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is essential for glucose homeostasis, energy balance and appetite. GLP-1R is a key therapeutic target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, owing to its central role in insulin secretion, glucagon suppression, and body weight regulation. Increasing evidence suggests that genetic polymorphisms in GLP-1R can influence the expression of the receptor, ligand binding, and downstream signalling processes, thereby affecting individual responses to GLP-1R agonists. Understanding these variants is essential for advancing precision medicine, as inter-individual genetic differences can influence both therapeutic efficacy and susceptibility to adverse events. This review highlights the current knowledge on GLP-1R polymorphisms, with particular focus on their structural and functional consequences and their potential clinical implications.

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Competing interests

Declaration of competing interest We can confirm that the contents of this manuscript have not been published previously and are not under consideration for publication elsewhere. The authors of this manuscript have no conflict of interest to declare.

PubMed

How Genetic Differences in the GLP-1 Receptor May Affect Diabetes and Obesity Treatments

Abstract

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Funding

Competing interests

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