Semaglutide is the generic name for an injectable medication that is used in combination with diet and exercise to help type 2 diabetics control blood sugar levels. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist. It mimics the effects of the human body’s naturally occurring hormone GLP-1 that helps lower blood sugar levels after eating a meal.

GLP-1 is glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone with a strong role in regulating blood sugar by stimulating the secretion of glucose-dependent insulin.

Insulin is a hormone that helps cells in the human body take in sugar from the blood and store it as glycogen, promotes fat storage, and helps in building skeletal muscle.

GLP-1 also slows the release of sugar (glucagon) into the blood to help with burning fat, slow the gastric emptying which is associated with feeling full, and decreases hunger as a result.

No.  Semaglutide is not insulin nor a substitute.  Semaglutide plays a role in helping your pancreas release insulin when glucose, blood sugar, is present.  However, semaglutide relies on the body’s ability to produce insulin so it cannot be used with people who lack that ability such as type 1 diabetes patients.

No.  Semaglutide is not a stimulate.  

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist that helps control blood sugar.  It also slows down how fast your stomach empties, triggers insulin release from your pancreas, and blocks a hormone that causes your liver to release sugar (glucagon).  All of these factors help contribute to you eating less and feeling less hunger which lead to weight loss.

Yes, semaglutide plays a role in reducing your appetite.  It also helps make you feel full longer.

The amount of weight loss from semaglutide is associated with your dosage.  Over the course of the program, you will progress from smaller does up to the full dose of 2.4 mg once per week.  In the phase 3 trial of semaglutide for weight loss that measured outcomes at 20 weeks, most participates were able to reach the full dose and lost more weight as the dose was increased. Weight loss was observed over the remaining 48 weeks of the clinical trial at full dose.  Keep in mind that individual results may vary.  The best results occur when semaglutide is used in combination with diet and exercise.  Some individuals may not be able to use semaglutide or may not be able to use the full dose due to side effects.  Some individuals may see no results. 

Yes.  Semaglutide is considered to be safe and effective when used as indicated.  Known side effects include a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents (with unknown risk in humans).  Semaglutide should not be used if you or your family has a history of certain thyroid cancers.  Semaglutide should not be used in people with type 1 diabetes or a history of pancreatitis.   People using blood sugar lowering medication should use caution with semaglutide.

No.  Semaglutide is not covered by insurance for people without type 2 diabetes.  You may still get this medication as a part of the semaglutide weight loss program.

The semaglutide weight loss program starts as low as $.

All patients start on the lowest does of semaglutide at 0.5mgs.  It is injected into the belly fat once per week.

All patients increase by 0.5mgs per week as tolerated.  The rate of increase is slower if the patient experiences nausea.

The maximum weekly dose is 2.5mgs.

Limit alcohol.

Use caution when taking oral medications.  Semaglutide slows gastric emptying and this can have an impact on oral medication absorption rate.  Please make sure to let your provider know about any medications you are taking before starting the semaglutide weight loss program. 

Common side effects include:

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Stomach Pain

Constipation

Serious side effects include:

Prolonged vomiting. Patients on Semaglutide can develop gastroparesis where the stomach stops moving, and patients vomit considerably. This can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Stop using Semaglutide and call your health care provider right away if you have vomiting that persists more than a day.

Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Semaglutide and call your health care provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.

Changes in vision. Tell your health care provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Semaglutide

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your risk for getting low blood sugar may be higher if you use Semaglutide with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include: dizziness or lightheadedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, and feeling jittery.

Kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration.

Serious allergic reactions. Stop using Semaglutide and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeat.

A common side effect of semaglutide injections is an upset stomach and it can be reduced by increasing your protein intake and decreasing your intake of sugar, carbs, and fat.

It helps because protein plays a strong role in preserving lean muscle mass. More muscle mass leads to a faster metabolism, which means more calories are burned per day without weight gain. It also promotes diet induced thermogenesis (DIT). DIT is higher for protein than for carbohyrdates and fat. This means your body has to burn more calories to digest and use it. This extra work helps your weight loss and maintenance goals. Protein also helps you stay full longer.

Semaglutide is not covered by most Medicare and insurance plans for weight loss, but manufacturer and pharmacy coupons can help offset the cost.

It currently is very expensive with costs ranging between $1300-$1800 per month. HOWEVER, at Advanced Medical your cost  for the first month is ONLY $499. Subsequent months at Advanced medical are LESS THAN HALF THE COST that you would pay at the pharmacy.