For anyone with diabetes, it is normal to feel overwhelmed. Having this condition means needing to check your blood sugar often, remembering to take your medicine, making healthier food choices, and more.
Recently, a relatively new drug gained momentum – Ozempic. Ozempic offers users effective type 2 diabetes management alongside physical activity and diet. Keep reading to learn more about this drug.
What Is Ozempic?
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a single-person-use, disposable, and pre-filled injection pen. It is a prescription medication to help patients revamp their type 2 diabetes management. It is simple to use and can offer solid results.
Type 2 diabetic patients get to use the product with exercise and a healthy diet to keep their glucose in check. It can be a viable option for patients who previously tried other diabetes medications but had no success. Just a single Ozempic dose works around the clock for an entire week.
The dosing options can include 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg. It can be taken with or without food.
Patients should insert the needle into the skin of the thigh, stomach, or upper arm. They shouldn’t inject it into a vein or muscle. And every time they do use the product, it is important that they rotate the injection site.
What Is Ozempic Used For?
Ozempic can help treat type 2 diabetes mellitus with increased physical activity and diet changes. People can also take the product to decrease the odds of potential cardiovascular events, such as stroke or heart attack.
This prescription medicine mimics the effects of GLP-1. It works with the body’s natural capability to reduce glucose and A1C. Semaglutide responds when the glucose skyrockets, thus allowing the system to release its own insulin. It achieves that by preventing the liver from creating or releasing excess sugar.
It aids the pancreas in producing more insulin when the glucose is too high. And it slows down the time it would take the food to leave the system.
Ozempic cannot replace insulin. Therefore, this injectable isn’t capable of treating type 1 diabetic patients.
It can have other uses as well. Although this injectable is not for weight loss, research on Ozempic weight loss results shows 2.4 mg of semaglutide once a week, with healthy lifestyle changes, offers a notable drop in body weight.
This is important since higher body weight can lead to bigger risks of different health problems, such as heart disease, sleeping problems, breathing problems, unstable blood pressure, and more. Luckily, with a modest drop in body weight (5%–10%), people can notice beneficial results.
Is Ozempic Effective for Managing Diabetes?
When exercise and healthy eating habits are not enough to stabilize blood sugar levels, that’s where Ozempic could prove useful. Alongside other drugs, like sulfonylurea, metformin, or insulin, Ozempic could aid the system in managing sugar levels. It can also help patients who can’t tolerate metformin.
So, what makes Semaglutide effective for diabetes? Diabetes is a metabolic condition that impacts various components of the body. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas can create the necessary amount of insulin at first. However, the body’s cells slowly but surely, lose their ability to use and absorb that insulin.
If the patient can’t reduce their glucose enough through working out and eating well, then medication can regulate that. Semaglutide is a type of injectable that can prevent strong fluctuations in glucose levels, including the uncomfortable effects of too low or too high blood sugar.
When it comes to injectable semaglutide, people are also interested in the difference between Ozempic vs wegovy. They are both the same medicine: semaglutide, with different brand names and dosages. But, the main difference is in their purpose. Ozempic is meant to treat type 2 diabetic patients and reduce the risk of notable heart problems. Wegovy is mainly tailored toward weight reduction and chronic weight management.
What Are the Side Effects of Ozempic?
Just like any medication out there, Ozempic can cause side effects. Based on FDA reports, the most prevalent Ozempic side effects presented in over 5% of patients were:
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain (i.e., bloating, gas, heartburn, and upset stomach)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
Users might also experience a loss of appetite, stomach flu-like symptoms, exhaustion, and headaches. In some patients, the adverse reactions caused a drop in blood sugar. It is important to talk to a specialist if you see your body doesn’t react too well to the product.
An allergic reaction can also happen. It can be accompanied by dizziness, hives, and swelling. Seek medical help immediately if your body shows any classic signs of an allergic reaction to semaglutide.
If this injectable doesn’t work for you, you can discuss the potential Ozempic alternatives with your doctor. They can come in the form of an injectable or an oral alternative.
Some of these options include metformin (oral alternative), Bydureon BCise (injectable), Trulicity (injectable), and Rybelsus (oral tablet). Consult with a specialist to know what diabetes medication is right for you.
5 Tips for Taking Ozempic
Before you start using Ozempic, tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you might have or had in the past. This includes problems with the kidneys, pancreas, or diabetic retinopathy. Be open about any medicines or herbal supplements you might be using.
To get the most out of this medication, here are a few tips you can try.
1. Avoid Some Foods
People want to know what foods should be avoided in an Ozempic diet. Ozempic is an injectable that works best if you combine it with healthy dietary habits. Although no consumables are strictly off-limits, there are some foods to avoid while taking Ozempic.
These include:
- Fried and fatty foods
- Foods high in sugar
- Refined grains
- Alcohol
If you do experience nausea, you might want to eat smaller portions and take your time when chewing food. Also, eat products that are light and bland but high in vitamins, nutrients, and minerals. The best foods to eat with Ozempic are non-starchy veggies, whole grains, nuts, natural protein-rich products, and legumes.
2. Proper Storage
When using the injectable pen, you can store it for 6 weeks, either in the fridge (2˚C to 8˚C) or at room temperate (not over 30˚C). Don’t put it in the freezer or expose its contents to direct sunlight or heat. Feel free to store it in a dry and cool place out of reach of children.
3. When to Throw It Away
Throw away the pen you are using after 6 weeks, even if there is some medicine still left in it. Make a note of when you bought it so you won’t forget. Use a plastic sharps container to throw away the used needles.
Do not use the product if the solution is not colorless, clear, or almost colorless. It means the Ozempic went bad.
4. Take Extra Precaution
Avoid sharing needles or pens with anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you. You can get an infection or pass one onto them.
5. Ask For Advice
Ask your nurse or doctor to show you how to inject Ozempic before you try it out yourself. Injecting it the right way can minimize the discomfort and can help curb some of that unease.
Final Thoughts
Ozempic is a prescription injectable that can help with type 2 diabetes. With a single dose once a week, patients can decrease their glucose levels and manage their underlying health conditions. They can self-administer the necessary dose and make use of its beneficial properties.
Author Bio
Ben’s Natural Health is the world’s first high-quality, all-natural, scientifically proven clinical supplement company. Their motto is to combine holistic healing with modern science.
Ben has brought together a team of naturopaths, nutritionists, and medical researchers to help him create real, side-effect-free solutions to serious metabolic health conditions.
References
- https://www.ozempic.com/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33567185/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6088226/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538538/
- https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/difference-between-ozempic-wegovy-3565564/
- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/209637lbl.pdf
- https://www.novonordisk.com.au/content/dam/nncorp/au/en/pdfs/Ozempic-0.25_0.5mg-cmi-v3.0.pdf
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