Semaglutide injections are not appropriate for those who are looking for an “instant” or short-term weight loss fix.
How it works: Semaglutide is in a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists. GLP-1 agonists work by stimulating your pancreas to increase insulin. This additional insulin causes the stomach to empty over a longer period of time. The idea of the stomach processing food more slowly can seem counterintuitive to patients who have turned to stimulant-based diet pills in the past. However, this slow and consistent digestion is merely an early step in the chain reaction that makes Semaglutide such an effective weight loss drug.
When your stomach takes more time to empty itself of food, it sends signals of “fullness” to the brain. This signal throughout a larger portion of your day, even if you’re eating less food than usual. The end result of this process is a powerful appetite suppression effect based on the patient’s own natural insulin production. This means patients can benefit from medically assisted weight loss without any need for invasive surgeries or harsh stimulants.
A Semaglutide regimen will also lead to healthier blood sugar levels, which can help you feel more energetic throughout the day. Stabilized and controlled blood sugar levels can also help improve other areas of your overall health. Even if you aren’t at risk for diabetes, this effect can contribute to a general sense of well-being, which is a crucial component in any weight loss journey.
- Delays stomach emptying, leading to a feeling of fullness and smaller meal size
- Slows intestinal motility
- Lowers blood sugars, in part by reducing the production of sugar in the liver
- Stimulates insulin secretion by the pancreas
Side Effects: Mild fatigue, intermittent nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. This is not a full list of possible side effects, but the most common we have gotten feedback on. Some are able to be prevented based on water intake and nutrition choices.
What to Expect: For your initial visit, you will need to schedule an appointment with our office. Upon arriving for your appointment, you will have a little paperwork to complete and then you will have your consultation with our Nurse Practitioner who will use her discretion (based on FDA recommendations for treating obesity) to determine if semaglutide is a safe and good option for you. She will carefully screen you by evaluating your past medical history, any current medications you take, your vital signs, and your body mass index (BMI).
You are NOT a good candidate for semaglutide if you have any of the following: diabetic retinopathy, low blood sugar, decreased kidney function, pancreatitis, medullary thyroid cancer (or a family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma), or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.
