A 27-page, physician-authored reference covering every GLP-1 medication available in 2026 — written by Dr. Donald L. Gates, MD, who has practiced bariatric medicine in Coastal Georgia since 1999.
This guide is free. There is no paywall, no upsell, and no sales call. We wrote it because our patients in Savannah, Pooler, and Hinesville kept asking the same questions, and the answers deserved more space than a 15-minute office visit allows.
What’s inside
- The 6 GLP-1 medications available in 2026 — semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide (where available), oral semaglutide (Rybelsus), liraglutide, and compounded formulations. Honest comparisons, not marketing.
- Eligibility — BMI thresholds, comorbidity criteria, and the contraindications most clinics never discuss (MTC history, MEN-2, severe gastroparesis, active gallbladder disease).
- Your first 6 months — week-by-week titration, what nausea actually feels like and when it passes, why hair shedding at month 3 is normal, and the labs we draw at each visit.
- Insurance & cost in Georgia — BCBS Georgia, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Humana, and TRICARE patterns. When prior auth works, when it doesn’t, and what cash-pay actually costs in 2026.
- Preserving muscle — the protein and resistance-training protocol we give every patient, plus the DEXA findings that surprised us.
- What happens when you stop — the SELECT, STEP-4, and SURMOUNT-4 data on weight regain, and how to taper if you decide to discontinue.
- Special populations — PCOS, prediabetes, menopause, men over 50, post-bariatric, and patients on insulin or SGLT2 inhibitors.
- FAQ — the 20 questions Dr. Gates is asked most often, answered without spin.
About the author
Dr. Donald L. Gates is a bariatric medicine physician who trained at Loma Linda University and has practiced weight-loss medicine in Coastal Georgia since 1999. He is Spanish-speaking and sees patients at Scale Solutions locations in Savannah, Pooler, and Hinesville. Learn more on the About Dr. Gates page.
Download the guide
Enter your email below to receive a copy. We’ll send the PDF directly to your inbox, plus occasional updates when the guide is revised. You can unsubscribe at any time. We do not sell your data — see our editorial policy for our privacy commitments.
[ GHL form embed — paste form code here ]
Form fields: Email (required), First Name (optional). On submit → deliver PDF link + add to “GLP-1 Guide Subscribers” tag.
Prefer to download directly?
If you’d rather skip the email step, you can download the PDF directly here.
Already a patient?
If you’re an established Scale Solutions patient, you already have access to this guide through your patient portal — no need to re-enter your email. Reach out to our office at (912) 352-7546 or info@scale-solutions.com if you can’t find it.
Ready to talk to a physician?
A guide is no substitute for an individualized evaluation. If you’ve read this and want to know whether GLP-1 therapy is appropriate for you specifically, we offer in-person consultations at all three locations. Many patients also start with our eligibility quiz to see if they meet basic criteria before booking.
This guide reflects the current state of GLP-1 evidence as of June 2026. Medical evidence evolves; we revise the guide approximately every six months. Nothing in the guide constitutes individualized medical advice. Always consult your physician about your specific health situation. Scale Solutions, Dr. Donald L. Gates MD, (912) 352-7546, info@scale-solutions.com.