GLP-1 agonists are some of the most talked-about medications in medicine today, and you’re likely prescribing them to Spanish-speaking patients. Here’s a preview of the phrases and grammar you need to explain them clearly and naturally.
LEVEL – ADVANCED
Introducing the Medication
01:31
Before diving into mechanism or side effects, patients need a simple, clear introduction to what you’re prescribing and why.
“Le voy a recetar un medicamento que se llama semaglutida. Es un agonista de GLP-1. Se inyecta una vez a la semana.”
(I’m going to prescribe you a medication called semaglutide. It’s a GLP-1 agonist. It’s injected once a week.)
Explaining How It Works
03:28
Patients often want to understand why a medication helps before they commit to taking it.
“Este medicamento baja el nivel de glucosa en la sangre a través de su acción sobre las hormonas producidas por el páncreas.”
(It lowers blood glucose levels through its effect on the hormones produced by the pancreas.)
One grammar pattern worth knowing: “hacer que” + subjunctive is a key structure in clinical Spanish for describing mechanisms of action — you’ll hear it constantly once you start listening for it.
Talking About Side Effects
05:31
Setting expectations upfront builds trust and reduces surprise calls later.
“Los más comunes son síntomas gastrointestinales, como náuseas y vómitos.”
(The most common are gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea and vomiting.)
Addressing Cost
06:34
Cost concerns are often the biggest barrier to starting a GLP-1 agonist — and reassuring patients can make all the difference.
“Es posible que el seguro médico no lo cubra, pero pedí que nuestro farmacéutico revisara su cobertura.”
(It’s possible that insurance won’t cover it, but I asked our pharmacist to review your coverage.)
Quick Vocabulary Reference
- el agonista de GLP-1 – GLP-1 agonist
- inyectar – to inject
- el nivel de glucosa en la sangre – blood glucose level
- los efectos secundarios – side effects
- las náuseas – nausea
- el seguro médico – health insurance
- la cobertura – coverage
Want to keep going? This is just a taste of the full GLP-1 Agonists series — which also covers screening questions (including the latest evidence on biliary disease and MEN2), how to counsel patients on starting the medication gradually, and much more, all built around a real doctor-patient consultation.
🎓 Members: Access the full GLP1 Agonists module in our Spanish for Diabetes course.
🔑 Not a member yet? ¡Hazte miembro! and get access to this series and our entire library of clinical Spanish courses.
📚 Learn from all our free lessons covering Spanish for Diabetes.
🙏 Gracias a Daniela Grave por su ayuda con el español de esta lección.
