Ozempic (semaglutide) is a once-weekly injection that is FDA approved for use by adults with type 2 diabetes to control their blood sugar levels. Ozempic is also used by adults with type 2 diabetes who have heart and blood vessel disease to reduce their risk of a stroke, heart attack, or death. The active ingredient (semaglutide) in Ozempic has also been shown in clinical trials to be useful for weight loss, however Ozempic is currently not an FDA approved weight loss drug.
Ozempic is used when other medications have been tried but have not controlled the sugar levels well enough. It should be used along with a diet and exercise program.
Type 2 Diabetes is a long term condition when your blood sugars become too high as the body does not produce or use insulin normally. If you have high blood sugars over a period of time it can cause serious health problems including heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, nerve damage, and eye problems
Ozempic works to lower blood sugar levels by helping the pancreas to release the right amount of insulin when blood sugar levels are high, which moves sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy. Ozempic injection also works by slowing the movement of food through the stomach and may decrease appetite and cause weight loss.
Ozempic injection is from a class of medications called incretin mimetics. Ozempic acts as a glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) receptor agonist that selectively binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor, the target for native GLP-1. GLP-1 is a hormone that has multiple effects on glucose, mediated by the GLP-1 receptors.
This medicine is not used to treat type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious condition that may develop if high blood sugar is not treated). Ozempic is not used to replace insulin to treat people with diabetes who need insulin.
