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Semaglutide

semaglutide for weight loss

The Benefits of Semaglutide

Diabetes is more prevalent than ever, with 95% of cases being attributed to type-2 diabetes. 

Although for some, the development of this condition is inevitable, perhaps due to hereditary and other risk factors, for the vast majority, it can be mitigated by taking these simple steps.

Before diabetes becomes fully developed, you go through a stage known as prediabetes.  This is where you start to show some of the symptoms, which, if ignored, can lead to full-blown diabetes.

Make these action points a part of your daily routine, and you can possibly prevent this disease from afflicting you:

1) If you are overweight, you risk developing diabetes.  Reduce your carbohydrate intake so you gradually eat less in order to lose weight.  Drink a glass or two of cold water prior to your meal to decrease your hunger and appetite.

2) Reduce the amount of fat you are consuming; grill or bake foods instead of frying; use cooking spray and/or olive oil instead of butter or fat. 

3) Make sure to consume foods that are of low glycemic index in order to prevent full-blown diabetes and the complications associated with it.

4) Feel free to drink 8-10 glasses of water daily. It should be your best friend and your primary source of beverage.

5) If you snack during the day, choose a healthy snack like almonds or a cup of berries, rather than a chocolate bar or chips.

6) Use almond milk instead of whole milk in your coffee.

Obesity is one of the main causes of diabetes. Studies show that 60-85% of diabetics tend to be overweight.  In the United States of America, about 80 percent of type–2 diabetics are reported to be overweight.

Insulin allows the sugar in the blood to enter the cells by acting on the receptor sites on the surface of the cells.  Excess sugar prevents insulin from working properly. The more fatty tissue in the body, the more resistant the muscle and tissue cells become to insulin.

There are certainly risk factors that make the likelihood of you being diagnosed with the disease higher.  One vital risk factor that you have control over is your weight.  If you are obese, the single best step you can take for your health and the prevention of diabetes is to lose weight.  Even in small increments, when you shed the pounds, you are increasing your health benefits.

For those individuals who are overweight, with an elevated BMI and are insulin resistant, the FDA has approved semaglutide(or brand names Ozempic/Wegovy) for obesity and weight management.  This is especially important because these medications help to increase the production of insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, which regulates glycemic index. 

In addition, these are the following benefits of semaglutide:

  • suppresses appetite

  • suppresses cravings

  • 15-20% total body weight loss

  • lowers risk of stroke

  • lowers risk of heart attack

  • lowers risk of early death

  • lowers risk of heart disease

  • improves overall quality of life

The known side effects of this drug are generally forgiving and temporary, such as mild nausea and diarrhea that are self-limiting.  Hence, the long-term benefits and the improvement in the quality of life for patients taking this medication are significant and outweigh the relatively minor aftereffects.      

To make an appointment and discuss the benefits of semaglutide with our Board Certified Physician, contact us by phone at 239.325.8328.

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