Diabetes Drugs Cut Knee Surgery Rates in Largest Real-World Study

A Shanghai cohort tracking 1,807 patients with knee osteoarthritis and type 2 diabetes found that users of GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide and liraglutide had significantly lower surgical incidence than non-users. The 233-patient treatment group underwent fewer knee replacements, offering the largest real-world evidence to date that these weight-loss medications may slow structural joint deterioration—though they don't reduce pain itself.