Understanding the Role of Ozempic Injection in Diabetes Treatment

1. Understanding the Role of Ozempic Injection in Diabetes Treatment  Ozempic (semaglutide) injection 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used: along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes. to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes with known heart disease. How does Ozempic work? Ozempic works in several ways to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The drug also lowers heart-related risks in people with both diabetes and heart disease. The drug does this by: Increasing the amount of insulin your body makes after a meal so that your blood sugar levels won’t get too high. Insulin is a hormone that lowers your blood sugar levels. Slowing the movement of food through your stomach to prevent a big increase in your blood sugar levels. Lowering the amount of sugar released into your bloodstream. Your doctor or a pharmacist can provide details about how Ozempic works in the body. What are Ozempic’s side effects? Like most drugs, Ozempic Injection may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that have been reported with Ozempic. These lists don’t include all possible side effects. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Ozempic. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects. For more details about Ozempic’s side effects, see this related article. Mild side effects Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects that have been reported with Ozempic. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or read Ozempic’s prescribing information. Mild side effects of Ozempic can include: constipation diarrhea nausea abdominal pain vomiting Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Serious side effects Serious side effects from Ozempic can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Ozempic, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number. Serious side effects can include: nausea pancreatitis (inflammation in your pancreas) boxed warning: risk of thyroid tumors or thyroid cancer* diabetic retinopathy (damage to your eyes that’s caused by diabetes) hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) gallbladder disease (which can include gallstones and inflammation of your gallbladder) Allergic reaction What is Ozempic’s dosage? Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Ozempic that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes. Form and strengths Ozempic comes as a liquid solution inside prefilled, disposable pens. The following table shows which strengths Ozempic pens come in. The strengths are written as milligrams of semaglutide (Ozempic’s active drug) per milliliter of solution (mg/mL). Recommended dosages You’ll inject Ozempic once each week. You should use the medication on the same day each week. And try to inject it at about the same time on each of those days. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of Ozempic for the first 4 weeks of treatment. This way, they can see how well Ozempic is working for you. After this, your doctor will likely increase your dose. Your adjusted dose will depend on your blood sugar levels and other factors. Each Ozempic pen holds several doses of the drug. Your doctor or pharmacist will explain when you need to throw away each pen and start using a new one. How is Ozempic taken? Your doctor will explain how to take Ozempic. They’ll also explain how much to take and how often to take it. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes. Taking Ozempic Ozempic comes as a liquid solution inside prefilled, disposable pens. You’ll be able to inject doses of Ozempic yourself. Your doctor can show you how to do this when you first start treatment. Ozempic injections are given under your skin in your thigh, abdomen, or upper arm. Be sure to rotate the injection site each time you take the medication. You should also use a new needle for each injection. This will help you avoid infections. Ask your doctor for suggestions to help you feel comfortable and confident managing your injections. Be sure to follow the instructions they give you. The list below contains a few tips you should follow: Wash your hands with soap and water before starting. Have all your supplies ready, including your Ozempic dose. Change the needle every time you use the Ozempic pen. Check the pen to make sure that the medication inside is clear and colorless. Double-check that the dose is correct on your pen before giving your injection. Keep track of your doses and make sure you have a full dose left in your pen after each injection. Do not share your pen with anyone else. Record the date that your Ozempic prefilled pens should be discarded. (They expire 56 days after opening.)

2. For instructions on how to use Ozempic, see the manufacturer’s site. Or, ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you how to use Ozempic pens. Taking Ozempic with other drugs Your doctor may prescribe Ozempic with other medications to help manage your blood sugar levels or lower your risk of cardiovascular problems. Some examples of other Diabetes medications that may be prescribed with Ozempic include: glipizide (Glucotrol) glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase PresTabs) metformin (Glumetza, Riomet) If you’d like to know more about taking other drugs with Ozempic, talk with your doctor. Note: For information about things that can interact with Ozempic, such as other drugs or foods, see the “What should be considered before taking Ozempic?” section below.