Ozempic (semaglutide) is used for type 2 diabetes in adults to improve blood sugar levels and also to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events like stroke, heart attack or death, for adults with type 2 diabetes with heart disease. In clinical trials, Ozempic has also been shown to help with weight loss, after 30 weeks, patients on Ozempic 0.5mg had lost 2.6 kg more than the placebo group, and patients on Ozempic 1mg lost 3.5 kg more than the placebo group. Although currently, Ozempic is not an FDA-approved weight loss medicine.

Ozempic works to lower blood sugar, helping the pancreas make more insulin, decreasing the amount of sugar your liver makes, and slowing the rate food passes through your body, making you feel full longer. Ozempic is from a class of medicines called a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists (incretin mimetics) that works by binding to GLP-1 receptors which results in lower blood sugar levels and A1C levels and may also reduce your appetite to help weight loss.

Ozempic is a once-weekly injection that should be used along with diet and exercise. Ozempic should not be used for type 1 diabetes mellitus.