Why I Share This Story
After nearly dying from a liver blood clot that developed while I was taking GLP-1 medication, I felt compelled to share what I learned. My story may be relevant to anyone with a history of food scarcity or sensitive metabolism considering these drugs.
My Experience with GLP-1 Therapy
I was prescribed GLP-1 therapy for Type 2 diabetes. The results were severe:
- Injection Form: Caused severe nausea and vomiting.
- Oral Form: I developed a liver blood clot after starting it, and it nearly killed me. My doctors and I stopped it.
Crucially, I grew up during wartime Vietnam with chronic food scarcity. I believe my metabolism adapted to survive famine. In my experience, appetite-suppressing drugs like GLP-1 can be catastrophic for a body wired to hoard energy in response to starvation signals.
"Drugs that are safe for some people can be life-threatening for others, depending on their metabolic history."
Tuan Tran
Three Key Lessons Learned
- GLP-1s Are Not Safe for Everyone: They are designed for adults with obesity/diabetes but can cause nausea, dehydration, and serious complications in vulnerable individuals.
- Dose Does Not Equal Safety: Higher doses do not guarantee better results. In my case, even standard doses overwhelmed a famine-adapted metabolism.
- Lifestyle Comes First: Well-designed diets and safe medications often outperform risky drugs. Nutrient-dense foods support long-term organ health.
My Current Safe Regimen
I made the following changes after consulting with my healthcare team:
Medications
- Stopped: All GLP-1 therapy.
- Continued: Toujeo (long-acting insulin) for steady blood sugar without appetite suppression or liver stress.
- Continued: Metformin to improve insulin sensitivity safely.
Diet
- Low-calorie, high-protein, high-fiber, mostly plant-based.
Final Thoughts
This page is part of my mission at tuantran.org to share safe, evidence-based approaches to health. My goal is to help people get healthy without unnecessary risks, relying on nutrition, science, and awareness, not just pharmaceutical shortcuts.