Side effects are the main reason that all diabetics aren’t on this drug as they can be bad. Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus are all the same drug, Semaglutide. Semaglutide mimics a natural hormone in the body that signals fullness so you stop eating.
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What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is a brand name for the drug, semaglutide. It’s part of a class of medications known as GLP-1 mimickers or agonists.
GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide 1, is a natural hormone in the small intestine wall that helps the body:
- increase the amount of insulin released by the pancreas to deal with a meal
- increase the amount of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas
- decrease the release of glucagon, which does the opposite of insulin by releasing sugar from cells into the bloodstream
- act on the brain to give you the feeling of fullness
- slow emptying of the stomach to also give you the feeling of fullness
That’s a lot of jobs!
So, now you’re going to take a drug that is almost the same chemical, but not quite, and ask it to do the same things and expect no problems!
And there are other similar drugs trying to do the same thing like Trulicity, Byetta, Victoza, and Rybelsus.
What problems does Ozempic cause for diabetics?
Because it’s acting on your gut, those issues are the most common:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Pancreatitis
These symptoms can sometimes be helped with dosage adjustments but not always. And in some people they’re constant and the only way to stop them is by stopping the drug.
And there is a rare association with increased thyroid tumors.
Also, the only way to take Ozempic and its cousins (except for Rybelsus) is by injection, a shot. So you get an increased risk of infections at the site of the injection and the pain of the shot.
Ozempic and its cousins are expensive! They’re much more costly than other non-insulin oral diabetic meds.
And the biggest problem is that these drugs work!
What?!
These drugs can work too well. They can drop your blood sugar down too low and cause hypoglycemia with nausea, sweating, and even seizures and death.
This occurs more quickly if you’re also taking other diabetic meds.
Also, these drugs do cause you to lose weight, which is good for diabetics as diabetes is made worse by obesity.
But you don’t just lose fat.
Like most reduced-calorie diets, you also lose muscle.
Losing muscle and other connective tissue is one of the worst problems as you age, but it’s much worse for an aging diabetic.
Muscle keeps you upright and prevents you from falling and losing independence.
But it also helps you to combat insulin resistance, the main cause of type 2 diabetes.
And if you have to stop Ozempic, or its cousins, for some of the reasons listed above, all the weight you lost comes back.
And the weight returns unless you’re doing something to increase your muscle mass.
You are taking these meds to “cure” your diabetes.
But, the meds can make your diabetes even more difficult to manage.
What can diabetics do to avoid the Ozempic problems?
The only way to avoid the problems is to avoid taking Ozempic or other forms of Semaglutide. And to avoid taking Semaglutide you have to control your blood sugar in healthier ways.
Get your blood sugar controlled in a more natural way:
- Keep your diabetes top of mind
- Clean up your diet by decreasing your carbs and increasing your protein, fat, and veggies
- Gain some muscle with strength training
Should you take Ozempic or not?
Ozempic certainly attacks diabetes and gets your blood glucose under control. But the side effects are real and once you’re on it it’s difficult to get off of it without reversing your gains.
Certainly, follow your doctor’s recommendation. If your diabetes is way out of control. it may be a good choice for you. But, if your diabetes is that out of control, insulin might be a more natural choice with fewer side effects.