Semaglutide is an injectable medication used for treating obesity and controlling high blood sugar in diabetes. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Semaglutide works by mimicking the effects of GLP-1, a hormone that helps control appetite and blood sugar levels.
At Harmony Hormone Clinic, we provide semaglutide injections as part of our comprehensive weight loss and diabetes management programs. In this article, we will discuss the key things you need to know about semaglutide treatment:
Semaglutide offers several benefits that can help with weight loss and diabetes control:
Semaglutide is very effective for weight loss. In clinical trials, people taking semaglutide lost on average 12-15% of their body weight over 68 weeks. This amount of weight loss can lead to significant improvements in obesity-related health conditions.
The way semaglutide promotes weight loss is by:
With the weekly injection schedule, the effects of semaglutide build up over time leading to progressive and sustained weight loss over months.
For people with type 2 diabetes, semaglutide helps lower blood sugar in two ways:
Multiple studies show that semaglutide lowers HbA1c levels (a marker of long-term blood sugar control) significantly more than other diabetes medications.
The weight lowering effects of semaglutide also indirectly improve diabetes control. Losing excess weight can increase insulin sensitivity and require less insulin to manage blood sugars.
Additional benefits of semaglutide treatment include:
Overall, semaglutide has broad positive effects on health beyond just targeting weight and blood sugar.
Semaglutide may be an option if you:
Semaglutide is not recommended if you:
For best results, semaglutide should be combined with lifestyle changes like improved nutrition and increased activity. Semaglutide works with your body so healthy behaviors enhance its effects. Our clinic provides customized plans to set you up for success.
If you decide to move forward with semaglutide, here is an overview of the process:
During the first appointment, our medical team will:
Semaglutide is given as a weekly subcutaneous injection using small thin needles.
The dosage schedule starts low and gradually increases over 5-8 weeks to improve tolerance of side effects. Once at the full dose, you continue with the weekly injections long-term.
We will demonstrate proper injection technique and patients can also choose to self-inject at home.
Patients are monitored closely in the first months and periodically long-term while on semaglutide. Follow-up visits include:
With close medical supervision, semaglutide is very safe and effective for chronic weight management.
Semaglutide is structurally very similar to the human glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone. When injected, it mimics this hormone's effects, stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin when blood sugar levels are high, leading to better blood sugar control in patients with diabetes.
The most common side effects of semaglutide are gastrointestinal in nature due to the effects on digestion and food intake. These usually emerge early and resolve with time.
Strategies like slow dosage ramp-up, taking injections with food, antacids, adequate hydration and light exercise can help minimize symptoms. Alert your provider if side effects are severe or persistent.
In clinical trials, semaglutide did not increase heart risk or diabetic complications. As with all medications, safety lab monitoring for kidney health, thyroid function and other parameters is done routinely.
When looking for semaglutide near me, choose an established weight loss clinic with specific expertise in medications like semaglutide.
Harmony Hormone Clinic has provided medical weight management for over 10 years in the Pinellas Park region. With our proven programs, patients lose weight safely and also gain invaluable knowledge around lifestyle, nutrition and improving chronic health conditions.
Our team includes highly trained medical weight loss specialists, nurses, dietitians and health coaches. We take time to understand your unique situation and match you with an individualized treatment plan (may include medications, supplements, diet plans, fitness strategies).
We also handle all aspects of treatment under one roof in our state-of-the-art wellness center - medical assessments, body composition testing, blood draws, nutrient injectables, prescription management and product dispensing. This consolidated approach provides convenience plus continuity of care over months and years when managing complex conditions like obesity and diabetes.
Harmony Hormone Clinic stands out by always putting your health interests first. We take time to educate patients every step of the way and welcome open conversations around treatment options to best meet your goals.
If you are looking for an optimal semaglutide experience with true medical experts by your side, reach out for a consultation today. Discover how our comprehensive real-world approach can help you finally gain control over your weight and health.
In clinical studies, semaglutide patients lost between 12-15% of their body weight on average after 68 weeks. Some patients lost minimal weight while others lost up to 25%. The amount of weight loss varies based on the individual.
Semaglutide continues working for most patients long term. Like other medications it can become less effective over time either due to changes in the body or lapses in adherence. Our clinic helps patients troubleshoot plateaus and revitalize weight loss efforts.
Discontinuing semaglutide could result in regaining some lost weight over time as the appetite and metabolic regulating effects wear off. We advise transitioning to lifestyle management to keep weight stable.
Semaglutide alone will likely still produce modest weight loss and diabetes improvement in the short term. However dietary and activity changes greatly enhance the drug’s effectiveness for more substantial and sustainable progress.
Yes semaglutide has shown success in those failing other measures - it activates different pathways to reduce food intake, appetite and body weight. Under medical guidance, adopting new tools can help reinvigorate stalled efforts.
Many patients build up significant anxiety around the injections. However the tiny needles for subcutaneous injections cause little if any discomfort. With our training, you gain confidence and the process becomes quick and routine each week.
We hope this overview has provided valuable information about semaglutide - an extremely promising medication for obesity and diabetes management when combined with lifestyle strategies.
Our goal is to serve the Pinellas Park area with truly patient-centered, compassionate care. We seek to educate, empower and motivate people towards better health while always putting individual needs first.
Discover how our integrative approach focused on you can help resolve chronic issues where other options have failed.
