Semaglutide is an injectable medication used for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. It works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar and appetite.
Semaglutide has been shown in studies to be highly effective for weight loss and glycemic control. When used alongside diet and exercise, semaglutide can help patients lose upwards of 15% of their body weight. It does this by reducing appetite and calorie intake.
Semaglutide shots may be a good option for those struggling to lose weight through lifestyle changes alone. When combined with nutritional counseling and activity planning, semaglutide shots offer powerful medical assistance for weight management.
Below we explore key topics around semaglutide therapy so Lexington residents can determine if it may be right for them.
The primary benefit of semaglutide for weight loss is significant, sustained reductions in body weight. Across clinical trials, semaglutide has been shown to promote 15-17% weight loss on average after 68 weeks of treatment. This amount of weight loss can greatly improve health and quality of life.
Beyond weight loss, semaglutide improves numerous cardiometabolic risk factors:
These therapeutic effects likely lower patients’ risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes complications.
For diabetic patients, semaglutide enhances glycemic control by:
As diabetes is closely tied to being overweight, semaglutide’s weight loss properties assist with establishing glycemic control.
To understand semaglutide’s benefits, it helps to know how it works at a physiological level.
Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They act as analogues of the incretin hormone GLP-1.
Native GLP-1 has short-lived effects in controlling glucose metabolism. In contrast, semaglutide has a long half-life, enabling once-weekly dosing.
By activating GLP-1 receptors, semaglutide replicates endogenous GLP-1’s effects:
These actions together improve glycemic control. They also influence energy and glucose metabolism in ways that promote weight loss through reduced caloric intake.
A major way semaglutide induces weight loss is by suppressing appetite. Imaging studies reveal semaglutide lessens activation of brain areas involved in appetite regulation. Patients report feeling fuller sooner after eating and reduced hunger cues between meals.
Emerging research points to other ways semaglutide may yield positive results:
Ongoing studies continue elucidating semaglutide’s diverse physiological effects. What’s clear is it tackles obesity, prediabetes, and diabetes through numerous complementary mechanisms.
Semaglutide has FDA approval for chronic weight management in patients with:
Or in those with weight-related health problems and:
It also has expansive indications for treating type 2 diabetes, including as:
Talk to your medical provider about whether starting semaglutide shots aligns with your health needs and weight loss goals. Those struggling to lose weight or keep it off may benefit from adding this effective medical therapy.
While highly effective for many, semaglutide does have risks to weigh including:
Pregnant and breastfeeding women also cannot use semaglutide. Kidney and liver disease may require dose adjustments.
Discuss your medical history openly with your prescriber when deciding if semaglutide is right for you.
Semaglutide is structurally similar to a human hormone called GLP-1. When injected weekly, it helps improve A1C levels in adults with type 2 diabetes by stimulating the release of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. The shots also suppress appetite and aid weight loss by slowing stomach emptying and increasing feelings of fullness.
If semaglutide therapy is determined appropriate for your needs, here is an overview of what to expect when starting out:
You’ll first get a prescription for semaglutide. Currently, the only FDA-approved brand is Wegovy for chronic weight management. Ozempic and Rybelsus brands have similar formulations but different indications.
Compounded semaglutide preparations with similar properties also exist for weight loss. Your provider will submit a formulation best aligning with treatment goals and insurance coverage.
Semaglutide initiates at a 0.25 mg weekly dose. This helps minimize side effects. The dose then escalates slowly up to the 1.0 mg - 2.4 mg range needed for optimal response.
Most remain on semaglutide for 12 to 18 months. Providers reevaluate progress periodically to adjust duration as warranted.
Patients perform semaglutide shots via simple subcutaneous injection into the thigh, abdomen or upper arm. Rotation of sites is recommended.
While patients can self-inject, learning proper technique in the clinic first is wise. Harmony Hormone Center nurses provide hands-on injection training and supplies if needed.
GI issues like nausea commonly start semaglutide but improve with time. Concurrent use of anti-nausea medication helps most power through.
Staying ultra hydrated, reducing meal sizes, proper dosing, and moderate physical activity also improve tolerance. Consider an elimination diet if intolerances develop.
Patients check back regarding side effects and refills per clinic schedule. Providers adjust dosing and offer troubleshooting advice to retain individuals receiving optimal benefit.
Comprehensive lifestyle support simultaneously empowers and prepares patients for success. Referrals get made to trusted dietitians, personal trainers and wellness resources.
When considering semaglutide therapy, choosing an experienced hormone clinic like Harmony Hormone Center optimizes your chance for sustainable success.
Harmony Hormone Center practitioners personalize care based on your:
Treatment gets tailored not just during initiation, but modified continually to surpass plateau.
We continually integrate the latest evidence-based therapies like semaglutide. You gain access to new treatments more rapidly through research-focused care.
Our on-staff compounding pharmacy also uniquely formulates therapies insurance doesn’t cover.
Harmony Hormone Center goes beyond medicines alone. We coordinate comprehensive support:
Our attentive patient advocates offer you concierge-level assistance. They help:
You get VIP treatment focused solely on your wellbeing.
Committing to semaglutide treatment requires perseverance through early adjustment phases before its remarkable benefits fully emerge. But the substantial improvements in health most experience make pushing through initial bumps well worth it.
Here’s an overview of the typical patient journey with semaglutide therapy:
The first 4-8 weeks commonly bring side effects like nausea and vomiting as the body acclimates. Concurrent meds help mitigate while dosage increases gradually. As the dose optimizes and tolerance builds, energy lifts and weight incrementally drops building momentum.
This period progresses with enhanced energy, curbed appetite and accelerated weight loss most evident. Side effects fade while lifestyle habits fall into place. Seeing tangible results fuels motivation while clinicians support continued troubleshooting.
Months 4-6 convert early success towards sustained fat burning and weight loss. Better insulin sensitivity kicks in further stimulating results. Patients feel remarkable as compounding benefits yield confidence and expanded functionality.
The mid to long-term period transitions weight loss efforts into maintenance mode. Sedentary patients become regular gym goers. Healthy nutritional strategies convert into preferred lifestyle habits. Periodic adjustments keep progress from plateauing.
With obesity now a global epidemic, having access to proven medical treatments like semaglutide provides a critical tool for reversing trends.
Consider initiating semaglutide therapy if you relate to any of the following scenarios:
- Trying yet unable to lose excess fat through nutritious eating and regular exercise alone - Finding temporary success but inevitably regaining lost weight
- Bloodwork shows rising markers of insulin resistance like glucose, HbA1c or triglycerides - A concerning precursor towards prediabetes or diabetes if unchecked
The comprehensive care model at Harmony Hormone Center optimally sets patients up for sustaining weight loss once completing semaglutide therapy. We additionally suggest connecting with these exceptional local health resources for lifestyle support:
Balanced You Nutrition Counseling - Lexington’s premier private practice dietitian group - Personalized meal planning based on preferences and health needs - Ongoing support ensures long-term adherence
bodies in balance - Woman-owned boutique fitness studio - Small class sizes with dedicated instructors - Methods from yoga, pilates, barre and more
Direct Laboratory Services - Walk-in lab for convenience - Affordable pricing without insurance - Tests from comprehensive hormonal panels to vitamins
Building an empowered community of caregivers bolsters results. Contact us anytime for additional wellness referrals that nourish you wholly.
Managing weight often becomes harder with age as hormonal changes exacerbate complex drivers of obesity. Simply addressing calories or lifestyle factors alone fails to resolve persistent underlying dysfunction.
That’s why Harmony Hormone Center offers cutting-edge hormone balancing therapies alongside semaglutide treatment to optimize success.
Testosterone therapy counteracts hormonal depletion improving energy expenditure, motivation and lean muscle mass - all bolstering weight loss.
Thyroid hormone optimization maintains metabolic rate helping prevent adaptation plateaus.
Cortisol-modulating supplements lower inflammation and unhealthy stress responses sabotaging progress.
We identify and treat every subtle imbalance through advanced testing, precision treatments and consistent monitoring.
What our decades of experience confirm is no single medication or lifestyle factor brings optimal health alone—only comprehensively addressing root causes produces lasting solutions.
Harmony Hormone Center invites you to become part of our caring community focused on realizing your full wellness potential. We journey along your side until vibrant health and peak living get restored.
We hope this outline gives you clarity that adding semaglutide shots could be the jumpstart needed to finally shed excess weight. While incorporating improved nutritional and activity habits long-term remains essential, obesity’s complexity often requires more to overcome.
Through compassionate care, advanced hormone balancing and leveraging the latest medical therapies like semaglutide, Harmony Hormone Center empowers patients to achieve sustainable weight loss and metabolic health.
We consider it a privilege to support your wellness journey. Reach out today to see if semaglutide assisted treatment aligns with your weight loss and health goals.
