Understanding Ozempic
What is Ozempic? Is it right for me?
What does Ozempic do?
Ozempic is a type 2 diabetes drug that helps lower blood sugar levels by telling the pancreas to release
insulin. It also helps prevent blood sugar spikes by slowing down sugar processing in the stomach and
liver—especially after meals.
Even though Ozempic can’t treat type 2 diabetes on its own, studies show that it lowers patient risks for:
- Heart attack
- stroke
- Major cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) incidents
- Passing out
- Death
Ozempic is not a replacement for insulin treatments.
Does Ozempic help you lose weight?
Ozempic is only approved for diabetes management, but weight loss is a common side effect of the drug.
Ozempic shares a chemical with another weight loss drug called Wegovy—designed for patients struggling with
obesity. This chemical radically slows down your digestion. When your food doesn’t move as quickly, you feel
full faster and you’re likely to eat less. Combined with exercise, Ozempic can lead to noticeable weight and
belly fat loss.
That said, Ozempic is not designed for patients without type 2 diabetes
Other common side effects of Ozempic include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Constipation
Many of these side effects appear in patients early on, but decrease over the first two weeks of use.
If you’re concerned about diabetes or weight loss, speak with a licensed physician before using any medication.
To find out how you can be a patient at SAC Health or to make an appointment with a SAC Health provider, visit sachealth.org/patients
To subscribe to our mailing list for future stories and news about SAC Health and other topics, please click here.