What is semaglutide?

Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists that help the pancreas release more insulin after you eat.

Semaglutide comes in a prefilled pen device that you use to give yourself injections under the skin of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. The injection is quick and relatively painless. Most people find it pretty easy to learn how to use the pen properly. The medication is taken once weekly.

How does semaglutide work to lower blood sugar?

There are a few ways that semaglutide works to lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes:

Slows digestion so that sugar from food you eat enters the blood more slowly and doesn't spike blood sugar as much.
Helps the pancreas make more insulin when your blood sugar goes up after a meal. More insulin means more sugar gets removed from the bloodstream.
Decreases appetite so you may eat less without feeling hungry or unsatisfied. Eating smaller portions obviously means taking in fewer calories.

Together, these effects result in improved A1c levels, which is a measurement that reflects average blood sugar control over a 2-3 month period.

What are the benefits of using semaglutide?

There are several great benefits to using semaglutide:

Lowers A1c: Semaglutide on average lowers A1c around 1-2% in clinical trials which is significant in diabetes management. This brings many people into the target range.
Weight loss: Most people lose some weight taking semaglutide which also helps diabetes control and heart health. Average loss is 10-15 lbs.
Lowers heart disease risk: Beyond glucose control and weight loss, semaglutide also lowers blood pressure and improves cholesterol.
Single injection per week: Unlike many other diabetes meds taken 1-2x daily, semaglutide is just once a week.

What are the side effects of semaglutide I should know about?

The most common side effects of semaglutide are related to the digestive system since it slows food breakdown. These usually happen early on and resolve within a month or so.

Nausea - This is the most frequent problem, but tends to improve over 4-8 weeks. Taking the shots with food can help.
Vomiting - This affects around 6% of people. As with nausea it tends to resolve.
Diarrhea - About 12% of patients get diarrhea. It's also typically temporary.
Decreased appetite - This is actually beneficial for weight loss, but let your doctor know if it's severe.

There are some other rare side effects so speak to your healthcare provider about any concerns.

Is semaglutide better than other diabetes medications?

Compared head-to-head against several other common type 2 diabetes meds like metformin, sulfonylureas, SGLT2 inhibitors, etc, research shows that semaglutide lowers A1c and body weight more than all those other single drugs.

The benefits of excellent blood sugar control, weight loss, and heart protections make semaglutide a very appealing choice for many people. It does require a weekly injection which some people dislike compared to taking pills. But many feel the pros outweigh this con.

Of course speak with your doctor about whether semaglutide is the right medication for your individual situation and health profile. But for most people it is an excellent addition to their diabetes regimen.