BlogDiabetesLiving with Diabetes: How Semaglutide Can Help Your Health

Living with Diabetes: How Semaglutide Can Help Your Health

Semaglutide has been called a breakthrough way to treat type 2 diabetes. Here’s how it works, key benefits, and the potential side effects.
A woman sipping coffee in her brightly lit, modern kitchen
Published
Share

When a person has type 2 diabetes, there’s a process in their body that’s gone awry: It may not make insulin or may not use it well. The result is high blood sugar, which can cause a cascade of health problems, including heart and kidney damage. 

To help, their doctor will come up with a treatment plan, which includes exercise and a specific way of eating—and these days, it may also include a type of medication to reduce blood sugar called semaglutide. Semaglutide for diabetes also helps with weight loss, and that can further bring high blood sugar levels down.

“What’s really a game changer is the fact that there’s one medicine that provides multiple benefits at the same time,” says Evan Sisson, PharmD, a professor at the VCU School of Pharmacy in Richmond, Virginia. “It not only affects the blood glucose that we’re concerned about today, but also the downstream complications of diabetes, like heart disease and kidney disease.” 

Semaglutide is generally well tolerated and conveniently packaged as a weekly shot, he adds.

How semaglutide works

Semaglutide belongs to a class of prescription medications that lower blood sugar called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. When you eat, your gastrointestinal (GI) tract releases the hormone GLP-1. An important function of that hormone is to signal the pancreas to release insulin to lower your blood sugar. 

Read More: Can Semaglutide Help Reverse Diabetes?

Semaglutide mimics the actions of GLP-1: When you eat, the medication signals the pancreas to release insulin, which lowers your blood sugar. It also tells your brain when you’re full, reducing your appetite and cravings. “The GLP-1 agonists ping the receptors in the brain that promote satiety, that tell people ‘you can stop eating now,’” Sisson says.

Semaglutide also slows food moving through your digestive system. “People feel fuller, so they tend to eat less,” he explains. “The net result is that the blood sugars come down, and people lose weight.”

Semaglutide and type 2 diabetes

The best way to see if semaglutide is right for you? Have a conversation with your doctor. Each diabetes treatment plan is specific to the person and takes into account factors such as medical history, medical conditions, and prescription meds. Your doctor will also consider whether diet, exercise, and current medications have been successful in controlling your blood sugar. 

Related: Exercise And Semaglutide: What You Need To Know

Sometimes semaglutide is combined with other medications to control blood sugar, according to Mayo Clinic. For example, you may already take metformin, a low-cost oral medication that can be very effective in lowering blood sugar (it’s the most commonly prescribed med for type 2 diabetes). But if your blood sugar is still not under control, your doctor may consider adding semaglutide to your treatment plan. 

In the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Standards of Care for Diabetes–2024, semaglutide is one of the recommended treatment options for people with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity, as well as those at high risk for heart or kidney disease.

Ready to Get Started?

Safe, effective GLP-1 medications with results you can see and feel – at 40% OFF!

Better health begins today!

How semaglutide can help people with type 2 diabetes

The benefits of semaglutide for people with diabetes include the following:

  • It effectively lowers blood sugar. High blood sugar can cause health problems such as heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, nerve damage, and eye problems in people with type 2 diabetes. So when blood sugar is controlled, it helps prevent these complications. (Don’t miss our Goldilocks guide to getting your blood sugar just right.)
  • It supports weight loss. A decreased appetite leads to weight loss. However, research has shown a difference in how much weight is lost by overweight or obese people on semaglutide, depending on whether they have type 2 diabetes or not: Those who don’t have diabetes tend to lose more weight. Additional research is needed to understand why. 
  • It protects heart health. “Compared to the rest of the population, having type 2 diabetes increases your risk of a cardiac event, two to four fold,” says Sisson. Semaglutide reduces the risk of stroke, heart attack, and death in people who have type 2 diabetes and heart and blood vessel disease, research shows.
  • It protects kidney health. About one in three people with diabetes develop chronic kidney disease. One study found that semaglutide significantly reduces the risk of kidney failure, substantial loss of kidney function, and death in those with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. 
  • It’s convenient. People can inject semaglutide weekly at home. Many other diabetes medications are daily oral medications, which can be easier to forget and may have more complicated dosing instructions. 

Side effects to consider

The most common side effects when on semaglutide are GI-related, such as nausea, constipation, vomiting, and abdominal pain. There’s also an increased risk of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

The GI side effects are a result of food moving more slowly through your GI tract. “Food stays in your stomach longer,” Sisson says. “It’s like having a big Thanksgiving meal that sits there.” Eating smaller meals can help alleviate those side effects, and your doctor might also recommend anti-nausea medicine. 

Related: Does Semaglutide Lower Diabetes Risk?

Side effects tend to decrease over time, so to help your body adjust to semaglutide, your doctor may start you on a lower dose and ramp up. 

Finding the right path for you

If you have type 2 diabetes and are interested in exploring whether semaglutide is a good choice, the best place to start is to have a discussion with a doctor. You and your doctor can talk about the various medication options that are available for those in your situation and discuss next steps. There are some common reasons to not to take semaglutide, including if you have:

  • Pancreatitis
  • Gastroparesis
  • Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
  • Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2, an endocrine condition)

If you think a weight loss medication like semaglutide might be right for you, chat with a ReflexMD Wellness Advisor now or take our short quiz to see if you qualify.

Read Next: 4 Scary Diabetes Complications—And How To Avoid Them

Medications Containing Semaglutide Marketed for Type 2 Diabetes or Weight Loss. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. June 10, 2024.

Chronic Kidney Disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 15, 2024.

Collins L et al. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists. StatPearls. February 29, 2024. 

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. Standards of Care in Diabetes–2024. Diabetes Care. January 2024.

Diabetes Treatment: Medications for Type 2 Diabetes. Mayo Clinic. June 14, 2024.

Kurtzhals P et al. The Role of Weight Control in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Perspectives on Semaglutide. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. August 14, 2023.

Sattar S et al. Cardiovascular, Mortality, and Kidney Outcomes with GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinology. August 20, 2021.

Perkovic V et al. Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. The New England Journal of Medicine. May 24, 2024.

Oral and Injectable Medications for Type 2 Diabetes. American Diabetes Association. 

Semaglutide Injection. MedlinePlus. April 20, 2024.

Related

Published
Share
Ready to Get Started?

Safe, effective GLP-1 medications with results you can see and feel - at 40% OFF!

Better health begins today!

The latest

What Does “Medically Reviewed” Mean?

When you see the “Medically Reviewed” badge on ReflexMD, it means the article has been reviewed and approved by a medical professional.

Why Is It Important?

When it comes to your health, it’s critical to know that the information you’re reading is accurate and credible. The ReflexMD “Medically Reviewed” badge assures you that our content is based on science, not speculation, empowering you to make informed decisions about your health.

Who Reviews the Content?

Our team of medical reviewers includes doctors, nurses, and licensed healthcare professionals.

If you have questions about our medical review process, please feel free to contact us.

Semaglutide injection bottle from ReflexMD
ReflexMD New Years Offer

Start the New Year strong!

Limited Time Offer

40% Off

Your First 3 Months

Enter your information below to receive this offer.
By providing your email, you agree to our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Telehealth Consent. You also consent to receive promotional emails from ReflexMD. This consent is not a condition of purchase. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in our emails.
By providing your mobile number and submitting this form, you agree to receive marketing text messages (e.g. promos, cart/browse reminders) from ReflexMD at the number provided. Your consent is not a requirement for any purchase. Standard Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP or clicking the unsubscribe link (where available). To learn more visit our Privacy Policy & Terms.
Semaglutide injection bottle from ReflexMD
ReflexMD New Years Offer

Start the New Year strong!

Limited Time Offer

40% Off

Your First 3 Months

Enter your information below to receive this offer.
By providing your email, you agree to our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Telehealth Consent. You also consent to receive promotional emails from ReflexMD. This consent is not a condition of purchase. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in our emails.
By providing your mobile number and submitting this form, you agree to receive marketing text messages (e.g. promos, cart/browse reminders) from ReflexMD at the number provided. Your consent is not a requirement for any purchase. Standard Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP or clicking the unsubscribe link (where available). To learn more visit our Privacy Policy & Terms.

Find out if semaglutide is right for you.

With Ozempic® in short supply, get matched with a doctor who can prescribe semaglutide if it’s a good fit for you- starting at 40% OFF.