Semaglutide is a newer injectable drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help obese adults lose weight and keep it off. Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). GLP-1 RAs work by mimicking the action of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which is produced naturally in the body. These medications help to lower blood sugar levels by increasing insulin secretion, reducing the production of glucose by the liver, and slowing down the emptying of the stomach. This results in better control of blood sugar levels.
Semaglutide is different from other weight loss treatments out there because of how it is administered and the fact that it is FDA approved. Semaglutide must be injected subcutaneously. It was also found to improve blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes and can help control blood sugar in combination with other diabetes treatment you may be using, like sulfonylurea or insulin. Semaglutide is not used as an anti-diabetic medicine on its own but rather along with these other drugs to help manage your blood sugar. Because semaglutide works by manipulating your body’s GLP-1 levels, it isn’t able to give you any immediate effects after taking it, meaning that you won’t feel satisfied until a few hours later when its effects start working on your system.
This may take some getting used to if you are transitioning off fast-acting diet pills or something similar.