GLP-1 Drug Prescriptions Rising in Teens with Diabetes, But Insurance Type Creates Gaps | Research

The takeaway

GLP-1 receptor agonist dispensing increased among youth with type 2 diabetes from 2020-2023, but Medicaid-insured youth had significantly lower use compared to commercially insured youth.

Insurance-based access gap
Medicaid youth with T2D have lower GLP-1 RA dispensing than commercially insured peers

What the researchers found

GLP-1RA dispensing increased in youth with T2D from 2020-2023, but significant disparities existed between Medicaid and commercially insured youth.

Why it matters

Type 2 diabetes in youth is increasing rapidly, especially in disadvantaged populations. If Medicaid-insured kids can't access GLP-1 drugs, health disparities will widen at the youngest ages.

How the study worked

Multi-year cross-sectional study using Merative MarketScan Medicaid and Commercial databases; youth 10-17 with T2D; GLP-1 RA dispensing trends.

What this study cannot tell us

Claims data may not capture all prescriptions; dispensing doesn't confirm adherence; can't assess clinical outcomes; database may not represent all US youth.

How to read the evidence

Multi-year cross-sectional claims analysis — strong for trend identification and disparity documentation.

When this study was published

Published in 2026, documenting early trends in pediatric GLP-1 drug access.

The bigger picture

This highlights how insurance coverage translates to treatment access in the most vulnerable population — children whose early diabetes management determines lifetime health outcomes.

Questions still open

What specific barriers prevent Medicaid-insured youth from receiving GLP-1 drugs?
Does the insurance-based access gap affect long-term diabetes outcomes in these children?

Common questions

Can kids take GLP-1 drugs for diabetes?

Yes — some GLP-1 drugs are now approved for type 2 diabetes in youth aged 10 and older. However, this study shows that access depends heavily on insurance type, with Medicaid-covered children less likely to receive these newer treatments.

Why is the insurance gap concerning?

Youth with type 2 diabetes on Medicaid are often from disadvantaged communities with higher obesity rates. If they can't access the newest and most effective medications, existing health disparities will worsen during a critical period of development.

Read the original research

GLP-1RA Dispensing in Youth With Type 2 Diabetes: 2020 to 2023.

Pediatrics

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Chu, Patricia Y; Kelly, Andrea; Hennessy, Sean; Vajravelu, Mary Ellen; Huang, Jing; Amaral, Sandra. (2026). GLP-1RA Dispensing in Youth With Type 2 Diabetes: 2020 to 2023.. Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2025-071971