What was as soon as thought-about an obscure drug to assist handle the blood sugars in individuals with kind 2 diabetes, Ozempic has grown in reputation over the previous few years.
Individuals with all kinds of diabetes, and even some individuals with out diabetes, are asking their docs for Ozempic prescriptions.
However what are the advantages of Ozempic? Can it enhance your well being? And might it aid you reduce weight?
This text will examine all the things you’ll want to find out about Ozempic and weight reduction.
What’s Ozempic?
Semaglutide (GLP-1 agonist) is bought underneath the model names Wegovy and Ozempic.
It’s an injectable drug developed by the Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk, which additionally develops the favored insulins Novolog and Fiasp.
It was first permitted to be used by the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017.
As a result of its lengthy period of motion, this injectable kind 2 diabetes drug is just taken as soon as per week. It helps individuals with kind 2 diabetes decrease their blood sugars and HbA1c ranges.
Ozempic will increase insulin secretion and sensitivity whereas additionally inhibiting the liver from releasing glucagon to decrease blood sugar ranges.
Ozempic helps cut back meals consumption by reducing urge for food and slowing digestion, inflicting many individuals to reduce weight whereas taking Ozempic.
It additionally has been confirmed to cut back the chance of main coronary heart assault, stroke, or demise in adults with kind 2 diabetes and pre-existing coronary heart illness.
The really useful dose of Ozempic injection is 0.5 mg or 1.0 as soon as weekly. It may be taken with or with out meals.
What are the negative effects of Ozempic?
The commonest negative effects embrace:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Abdomen ache
Constipation and different GI points
Weight reduction
Extra extreme negative effects embrace:
Thyroid tumors, together with malignant tumors
Pancreatitis
Modifications in imaginative and prescient
Kidney issues
Hypoglycemia, particularly if you happen to’re on insulin remedy
Severe allergic reactions
Search medical consideration instantly if you happen to develop a fever, have modifications to your imaginative and prescient, or are feeling weak or in ache after taking the treatment.
It isn’t really useful to be used throughout being pregnant or breastfeeding (you need to cease utilizing Ozempic 2 months earlier than you intend on turning into pregnant).
Can Ozempic aid you reduce weight?
The story of Ozempic and weight reduction is a sophisticated one. The drug was first permitted to assist sufferers with kind 2 diabetes higher handle their blood sugar ranges.
After many individuals discovered nice success in improved well being outcomes as a result of decreased urge for food and elevated insulin sensitivity, docs started prescribing Ozempic “off-label” (with out FDA approval) for sufferers scuffling with continual weight problems.
In June 2021, the FDA permitted Wegovy (the generic model of Ozempic additionally developed by Novo Nordisk) for weight administration in chubby or overweight adults with not less than one different continual well being situation, reminiscent of hypertension, excessive ldl cholesterol, or kind 2 diabetes.
Docs additionally generally prescribe Ozempic and different GLP-1 agonists “off-label” to individuals with kind 1 diabetes, whether or not or not they’re scuffling with their weight, to raised handle blood sugar ranges and reign in insulin resistance. Once more, many have seen important weight reduction when on the drug long-term.
Research assist this, exhibiting that members in a trial misplaced between 10-15% of their physique weight over the course of 68 weeks with weekly subcutaneous pictures of Ozempic when utilized in mixture with life-style modifications (like wholesome consuming and train).
Examine members within the placebo group solely misplaced 2% of their physique weight on common.
Within the Ozempic group, most individuals (between 70-80%) misplaced 5% or extra of their physique weight, however any misplaced weight was regained after they stopped taking the treatment.
One other two-year research confirmed related outcomes, with members on the Semaglutide shedding a mean of 16.7% of their complete physique weight versus 0.6% with placebo.
The Semaglutide sufferers have been additionally more likely to lose not less than 5% of their physique weight, with almost 84% of Semaglutide sufferers shedding not less than that a lot weight.
Yet one more research out of SURE Denmark/Sweden confirmed not solely statistically important weight reduction amongst sufferers utilizing Semaglutide but additionally improved HbA1c ranges as effectively.
So all indicators level to sure, it may and does assist individuals reduce weight. It’s only a matter of whether or not or not you possibly can and ought to be taking it.
Who shouldn’t take Ozempic?
It is best to solely take Ozempic in case your physician has prescribed it for you, and probably, if in case you have diabetes and are scuffling with insulin resistance.
Many individuals want to attempt Ozempic as a result of its capability to assist individuals reduce weight, however that’s now inflicting a nationwide Ozempic scarcity for individuals who want the drug to assist handle their diabetes.
Ozempic will not be FDA-approved for individuals with kind 1 diabetes, however your physician could recommend it for you if you happen to’re scuffling with excessive blood sugar ranges and low insulin sensitivity.
Ozempic doesn’t change the necessity for insulin, so if you happen to begin Ozempic, you’ll have to additionally proceed your insulin routine.
Ozempic will not be really useful for people who find themselves pregnant, so if you’re on Ozempic and are pregnant or attempting to turn into pregnant, you’ll have to cease the treatment.
Don’t use Ozempic if you happen to or any of your loved ones members have ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or if in case you have A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome kind 2 (MEN 2).
Don’t use Ozempic if you’re allergic to Semaglutide or any of the substances in Ozempic. Inform your physician all medicines that you simply use earlier than beginning remedy with Ozempic.
Conclusion
This Semaglutide helps suppress urge for food, enhance insulin sensitivity, and prohibit the discharge of glucagon from the liver, all working collectively to not solely decrease blood sugar ranges however to assist individuals reduce weight, too.
Many research again this up, with the common quantity of weight reduction sufferers expertise being round 15% of their complete physique weight.
Individuals normally expertise weight acquire in the event that they cease taking the once-weekly injection.
Individuals who have any kind of diabetes and are scuffling with insulin resistance can usually be prescribed Ozempic “off-label” (with out FDA approval) to not solely enhance their blood sugar ranges however to lose extra weight as effectively.
Ozempic can also be confirmed to enhance coronary heart well being and stop main coronary heart assault, stroke, and demise in individuals with kind 2 diabetes and recognized coronary heart illness. Ozempic doesn’t change the necessity for insulin.
Discuss along with your physician to be taught extra about Ozempic if you wish to do this comparatively new treatment.