In a real-world study, semaglutide (also known as Ozempic or Wegovy) helped type 2 diabetics lose weight and control their blood sugar levels over three years. Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group through Getty Images
A new study has shown that the diabetes drug semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy) can provide results up to three years.
The study participants showed long-term improvements in blood sugar control and body weight.
Doctors claim that these findings are important for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
They caution, however, that the drug does not provide a quick fix.
To improve your health, you must make changes to your diet and lifestyle.
According to a new study that was presented at the 59th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes this week, the diabetes drug liraglutide could improve blood sugar control as well as weight loss if taken for up to three years.
Researchers said that these results are applicable to adults with Type 2 Diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the cells are unable to respond to insulin. This causes the pancreas and other organs to produce a greater amount of insulin.
Blood sugar levels can rise when the pancreas is unable to keep up. This can cause damage over time to the eyes, heart, kidneys, and kidneys.
Semaglutide is available under the brands Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. It’s a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist ( GLP-1). It mimics the GLP-1, which is released in the gut after a meal.
GLP-1 stimulates insulin release to drive glucose into the cells, where it can be used as energy.
Many healthcare providers use semaglutide off-label for weight loss because of its effect on controlling appetite.
FDA has approved only the WegovyTrustedSource semaglutide brand for treating obesity.
Semaglutide improves weight loss and blood sugar control
Semaglutide was previously shown to be effective during randomized clinical trials. However, larger studies with large groups of participants in real-world scenarios had not been conducted. The current study was designed to achieve this goal.
Researchers selected 23,000 patients with at least one prescription of weekly semaglutide.
Patients were also measured for HbA1c 12 months before and six months after starting treatment.
Researchers then tracked the HbA1c levels and weight of patients for up to three years.
The study authors claim that higher HbA1c is linked to diabetes complications such as heart disease and renal disease. A lower HbA1c level — 7% is the goal — will indicate better blood sugar control.
After six months, the HbA1c of people treated with semaglutide had decreased from 7.6% to 6.8%. The average person lost 4.7 kg (10.40 pounds) of weight.
The results of the final analysis showed that the people had maintained their improvements.
The best results were also achieved by those who adhered to the treatment the most.
What do these results mean for semaglutide users?
Dr. Zeeshan AFZAL, a physician and content advisor at welzo.com, said that these findings had “significant implications” in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
He said that “Ozempic… has shown efficacy in improving glycemic controls, reducing HbA1c, and promoting fat loss in type 2 diabetics.” The fact that it can result in sustained improvements in blood glucose levels and body weight is promising for people with type 2 diabetes.
Afzal explained that semaglutide is an important treatment for this condition.
He said that it may be particularly beneficial to those who have difficulty achieving adequate glycemic management with other treatments and lifestyle changes.
He did note that healthcare professionals should prescribe and monitor it so that individual patient needs, risks, and benefits could be taken into account.
Afzal also added that these findings were important for those who live with obesity.
He explained that weight loss was an important part of managing obesity, as it could lead to improvements in many health parameters, including metabolic health.
He said: “However, it is important to note that Ozempic has not been approved specifically as a treatment for obesity. It’s more of a treatment for type 2 diabetes. “Healthcare providers can use it to treat both obesity and type 2 diabetes simultaneously.”