How Does Ozempic Work to Treat Type 2 Diabetes? (2024)

To manage blood sugar levels associated with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, your healthcare provider may prescribe Ozempic (semaglutide) alongside a proactive diet and exercise regime.

Ozempic is a brand-name, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medication. Its active ingredient is semaglutide.

Ozempic reduces the risk of a stroke and heart attack in adults 18 and older with type 2 diabetes, a use for which it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

It may also be used "off-label" (for non-FDA-approved use) for long-term weight loss management.

Ozempic is a prescription-only medicine available in a prefilled pen to inject the liquid dosage under the skin, known as a subcutaneous injection.

As Ozempic grows in popularity across the United States, many wonder the following: How does Ozempic work? Is this drug right for me?

To address these questions and more, this article will explain how Ozempic works to treat type 2 diabetes, as well as other information on this drug.

How Does Ozempic Work?

Semaglutide belongs to the incretin mimetics class of drugs that stimulate the release of insulin in response to food consumption.

For context, insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that regulates how much sugar (glucose) is released into the bloodstream to use that sugar for energy.

Semaglutide, as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, works by mimicking incretin. Incretin is a hormone that regulates the amount of insulin released into the blood after eating.

This mimicking action results in glucose-dependent insulin secretion, lessening glucagon secretion (the hormone that controls blood sugar) and slowing food movement through the stomach, known as gastric emptying. Ozempic also increases first- and second-phase insulin secretion and improves control of glycemia (blood sugar).

Simply put, Ozempic improves blood sugar levels by helping the pancreas release insulin and limiting the release of sugar into the bloodstream.

In people with type 2 diabetes, treatment with Ozempic can lower hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), a measure of blood sugar control.

When To Use Ozempic

Ozempic is used with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

The FDA also approved it to reduce the risk of heart disorders, such as nonfatal attack or nonfatal stroke, in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular diseases.

Ozempic may be used alone or with other FDA-approved diabetes medicines, such as Glumetza (metformin), sulfonylureas, thiazolidinedione, and insulin.

Ozempic and insulin should be injected at different times.

As with all drugs, there are certain limitations to the use of Ozempic.

Notably, Ozempic has not been studied in people with a history of pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas that involves severe abdominal pain. As a result, these people should be treated with antidiabetic therapies.

Ozempic is not FDA-approved for use in people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis, a severe and even life-threatening complication of diabetes.

Side Effects and Safety

While considered tolerable and safe for approved users, Ozempic has a boxed warning (the highest safety warning assigned by the FDA) regarding the risk of developing thyroid C-cells tumor, which can lead to medullary thyroid (MTC) carcinoma. This discovery was affirmed in lab studies on rodents.

However, whether it causes thyroid C-cell tumors and MTC in humans is unknown.

Read on for more information concerning potential side effects associated with Ozempic.

Common Side Effects

Some common side effects of Ozempic are:

• Abdominal pain
• Burping
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Vomiting
  

Severe Side Effects

Severe side effects of Ozempic include:

• Pancreatitis
• Vision changes
• Hypoglycemia (signs of low blood sugar may include dizziness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, and feeling jittery)
• Kidney problems (kidney failure)
• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting, and rapid heartbeat)
• Gallbladder problems (including pain in your upper stomach, yellowing of skin or eyes, fever, clay-colored stools)
• Ileus (symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, constipation, bad breath, and abdominal fullness)
  

Call your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the above symptoms.

Who Shouldn't Take Ozempic?

Ozempic is not for everyone. Therefore, the use of this drug should be avoided in people with the following factors:

• A personal or family history ofMTC
• Multiple endocrine neoplasias (MEN) syndrometype 2
• Hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or any other ingredient in Ozempic

Consult with your healthcare provider before taking Ozempic if you have any of the following conditions:

• Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors
• Pancreatitis
• Have a history of diabetic retinopathy
• Acute gallbladder disease
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Acute kidney failure
• Hypersensitivity reactions

Your healthcare provider may need to discontinue Ozempic or change the dose to avoid any adverse effects when having these conditions:

• Pregnant or planning to become pregnant: The effect of Ozempic is unknown on a fetus (an unborn baby). It is better to stop taking Ozempic two months before you plan to become pregnant, as it may take several months for any remaining traces of the drug to be fully expelled from the body. Talk to your healthcare provider, how blood sugar during pregnancy or if you plan to become pregnant.
• Breastfeeding: To what extent Ozempic passes into human breast milk is unknown. Therefore, talk with your healthcare provider about alternative ways to feed your baby using Ozempic.
  

How to Take Ozempic

Ozempic is available as a liquid in a prefilled multidose pen delivering doses of 0.25 milligrams (mg) or 0.5 mg and 1 mg. The pre-filled pen is injected in the abdominal, thigh, or upper arm area. Ozempic also is available in a prefilled multidose pen that delivers 2 mg per injection.

The initial recommended dose begins with a once-weekly sub-therapeutic dose of 0.25 mg. An increase to 0.5 mg per week can be prescribed after four weeks if required.

For people requiring additional medicine to control blood sugar levels after four weeks, the dose may be increased to 1 mg weekly.

If additional glycemic control is needed, the required dose can be increased to 2 mg after four weeks. Your healthcare provider will determine the necessary amount.

Administer once a week, on the same day at any time, with or without food. If you miss a dose, consult your healthcare provider for guidance on returning to your regular dosing regimen without double-dosing. Finally, never share the pen with anyone, even if the needle has been changed.

Ozempic Interactions

Ozempic may interact with other drugs in the following ways:

• Simultaneous use with an insulin secretagogue, such as sulfonylurea (the oldest class of oral antidiabetic drugs), or insulin may cause low blood sugar. A dose reduction may be required to avoid the risk of hypoglycemia.
  
• Ozempic delays gastric emptying and may affect the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. In various clinical trials, semaglutide did not affect the absorption of orally administered drugs to cause any significant side effects.

Tell your healthcare provider about other medicines you take to avoid drug interactions.

Summary

Ozempic is the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide, first approved in 2017 for treating type 2 diabetes. It also reduces the risk of heart and blood vessel problems and helps to manage weight.

Ozempic is a prescription-only medicine and should be used as prescribed by your healthcare provider.It is a safe medicine but carries some side effects and requirements for safe use.

Managing type 2 diabetes can be difficult, but prescription medications like Ozempic can help. Nonetheless, always follow your healthcare provider's guidelines to avoid any complications.

Using prescribed medication(s), making lifestyle changes, and regularly checking blood sugar levels can help manage diabetes and improve overall health.