Insulin is a natural hormone produced by your pancreas to help manage your blood sugar levels. It does this by moving sugar from your blood into your body's cells. Once it is inside your cells, the sugar becomes your body's main source of energy. When your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or your body doesn’t respond normally to insulin (type 2 diabetes), it can lead to high blood sugar levels and serious complications. This is typically treated with medications to replace the insulin, increase the production of insulin by your pancreas, or improve your body’s response to insulin.
Ozempic (semaglutide) injection is a non-insulin treatment for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that is manufactured by Novo Nordisk. Here we will discuss how Ozempic works and other important information you need to know before using it.
What does Ozempic treat?
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a brand-name weekly injection that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved along with a diet and exercise to:
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Lower blood sugar levels in adults with T2DM
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Reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, and death) in adults with T2DM and heart disease
Ozempic is also used off-label as a weight loss drug. Its popularity with people looking to lose weight has led to numerous shortages in the past year.
Ozempic should not be used if you have a personal or family history of certain types of thyroid cancer. You should also avoid this medication if you have pancreatitis and it is not FDA-approved to treat type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or diabetic ketoacidosis.
How does Ozempic work?
The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, which is a glucagon-like peptide 1 or GLP-1 receptor agonist. GLP-1 is a hormone released in your gut when you eat and there are receptors for this hormone in cells all over your body. Ozempic works by activating the receptors for GLP-1. In the pancreas, this causes an increased production of insulin and decreased production of glucagon. This helps manage blood glucose levels in people with T2DM. In the stomach, Ozempic slows down gastric emptying (how fast your stomach empties), which will make you feel full longer. In the brain, it affects the areas that control appetite, which can make you eat less and lose weight.
What is the difference between insulin and Ozempic?
Ozempic and insulin are similar because they are both injectable medications that help control blood sugar levels in diabetics. However, this is where the similarity ends. Insulin products are synthetic or recombinant versions of the actual hormone your pancreas produces. They are used to replace the insulin that your pancreas no longer makes and can be used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Ozempic works like another naturally made hormone called GLP-1. By mimicking its actions, Ozempic increases insulin production by your pancreas, decreases the release of sugar from the liver, and slows down digestion. These all help manage blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes.
How do you use Ozempic?
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Read the Prescribing Information, including the Medication Guide and Instructions for Use that comes with Ozempic.
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Use Ozempic exactly as it is prescribed to you. Do not change your dose of Ozempic or stop taking it without talking to your doctor first.
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Your doctor or another healthcare provider should show you how to use your Ozempic pen before you first use it.
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Ozempic is given as a weekly injection under the skin (subcutaneous) of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm, on the same day of the week. You can use Ozempic with or without food. You can change the day of the week of your Ozempic injection if the last dose was given at least 2 days before.
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If you miss a dose of Ozempic, take it immediately, as long as it is within 5 days of the missed dose. If it has been more than 5 days, skip the dose you missed and take it on the next scheduled day.
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Rotate your injection site with each injection of Ozempic.
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Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant, or are breastfeeding before starting this medication.
What are some common side effects of Ozempic?
The most common side effects of Ozempic seen in clinical trials when compared to placebo include:
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Nausea and vomiting
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Diarrhea
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Stomach pain
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Constipation
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Decreased appetite and weight loss
Rarely, Ozempic may cause some more serious side effects such as:
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Serious, life-threatening allergic reactions
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Increased risk of certain thyroid tumors including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
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Increased risk of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
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Kidney problems
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Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
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Diabetic retinopathy complications and vision changes
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Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially if it is used with insulin
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Gallbladder problems and gallstones
Contact your healthcare professional for medical advice about any possible adverse effects you experience while taking Ozempic. You can report your adverse effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Are there any drug interactions with Ozempic?
When Ozempic is taken with other medications, it can change how they work or make some side effects more likely or severe. You should ask your healthcare provider if any of the prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, vitamins, or supplements you take may interact with Ozempic, including:
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Other diabetes medications such as insulin, sulfonylureas, and metformin
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Oral medications, because Ozempic slows how fast your stomach empties and can change these medications are absorbed
What are the benefits of Ozempic?
When used along with a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise, Ozempic has been proven to improve blood sugar levels as well as your A1C level if you have T2DM. If you have T2DM and heart disease, it also lowers your risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death.
While not approved for weight management, people who take Ozempic generally lose weight. This has led to significant off-label use to help treat people with obesity. In fact, semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in Ozempic, is FDA-approved at a higher dose as a weight loss drug under the brand name Wegovy. Weight loss has proven health benefits. Even a loss of 5% to 10% of your total body weight will produce health benefits, including improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
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