Ozempic: The Type 2 Diabetes Drug Gaining Attention
Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable medication for Type 2 diabetes.
Television Personality Sharon Osbourne Advocates for Ozempic
Television personality Sharon Osbourne has spoken out about Ozempic, a Type 2 diabetes drug used to lose weight. She said the drug shrinks your stomach and “changes you”.
Here’s everything you need to know about Ozempic:
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Ozempic for Type 2 Diabetes
Ozempic is a medicine for adults who suffer from Type 2 diabetes that, along with diet and exercise, may improve blood sugar. While Ozempic is not meant for weight loss, it may help people lose some weight. Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable medication but experts say it’s not a miracle drug.
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The Science Behind Ozempic
In a detailed article on the drug, Forbes said the active compound in Ozempic, semaglutide, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It works by activating GLP-1 receptors throughout the body and enhancing the effects of the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1. Christopher McGowan, a gastroenterologist, told the outlet that Ozempic impacts weight by affecting the hunger centres in the brain and slowing the rate of stomach emptying.
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Approval and Popularity
According to the New York Times (NYT), the Food and Drug Administration in the US first approved the injectable medication for treating diabetes in 2017. Then, a drug with a higher dose of Ozempic was approved for treating obesity in 2021. Since then, it has become popular across the world.
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Celebrity Endorsements
Elon Musk, when asked about how he looked “fit, ripped and healthy”, said in a tweet posted in October 2022 that he was taking Wegovy, the Ozempic-containing drug sold under the brand name. Variety too said in an article that actors and producers are “singing the drug’s praises” on Signal, an encrypted messaging app.
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Off-Label Use and Online Availability
Dr Disha Narang, an endocrinologist based in the US, told NYT that as interest in Ozempic increased, people started finding physicians who would prescribe it to them off-label, or started seeking the drug out online.
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