Weight Loss with a GLP-1

Semaglutide is an appetite suppressant, administered weekly by subcutaneous injection. Semaglutide activates GLP-1 receptors in the brain, which stimulate insulin secretion and reduce glucagon secretion when blood glucose levels are elevated. It also slows the stomach’s process of moving food to the large intestine, causing the stomach to feel “full” longer. 

Semaglutide is the only medication to demonstrate weight loss results that are on par with bariatric surgery. Patients report a significantly reduced appetite, as well as fewer sugar cravings. 

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that was originally developed for patients with Type 2 diabetes, but when providers and pharmaceutical developers noticed how much weight their patients were losing, they began to study semaglutide exclusively for weight loss. 

GLP-1 receptor agonists work by stimulating your pancreas to increase insulin.  This additional insulin causes the stomach to empty over a longer period of time. The idea of the stomach processing food more slowly can seem counterintuitive to patients.  The slow and consistent digestion causes the stomach to take more time to empty itself of food. This delayed gastric emptying sends signals of “fullness” to the brain. The end result of this process is a powerful appetite suppression effect based on the patient’s own natural insulin production. This means patients can benefit from medically assisted weight loss without any need for invasive surgeries, harsh stimulants, or extreme food deprivation. 

A semaglutide regimen will also lead to healthier blood sugar levels, which can help patients feel more energetic throughout their day. Stabilized and controlled blood sugar levels can also help improve other areas of overall health.

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Feeling bloated
• Belching
• Gas
• Heartburn
• Serious side effects include thyroid tumors

Semaglutide may cause the following: Inflammation of the pancreas, Gallbladder symptoms, Low blood sugar, Kidney symptoms, Allergic reactions, Change in vision in patients with Type 2 diabetes, Increased heart rate, depression, or thoughts of suicide. Use cautiously if you have problems with your pancreas or kidneys, if you have type 2 diabetes or diabetic retinopathy, have had suicidal thoughts, depression, or mental health issues.

Semaglutide is contraindicated if you have had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or an endocrine system condition known as Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), or if you have had a serious allergic reaction to Semaglutide, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.   We'll discuss your medical history during the consultation to ensure that you are a viable candidate.

• Patients who are less than 18 years old
• Pregnant/breastfeeding/ planning to become pregnant
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Diabetes ketoacidosis
• Hypersensitivity to semaglutide or any components of this medication
• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
• History of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome
• History pancreatitis 
• End stage renal disease (on dialysis)
• Patients with diabetic retinopathy
• Patients with a history of anaphylaxis or angioedema
• Caution in patients:
• Type 2 diabetic patients that are on insulin or a sulfonylurea- due to increased need for glucose monitoring; Patients with that are on several antihypertensive medications- due to hypotension concerns.

We think it's important that you have an opportunity to check in with a medical provider each week.  We want to "lay eyes on you", provide you an opportunity to share any concerns you have, ensure that you are losing the weight safely and celebrate your success!  

If you're already a patient of our medical clinic, you know that we believe in efficiency.  We assure you that you will be in and out within 5 minutes, unless you'd like more time with us.

You can choose to come at any point on your specific day.  Simply drive-in at your convenience. 

Patients new to using Semaglutide for weight loss follow the standard dosing schedule.

Week 1 - 4:  .25mg per week

Week 5 - 8:  .5mg per week

Week 9-12:  1mg per week

Week 13-16:  ~1.7mg per week

Week 17+:  2mg per week

Reduce Sugar In Your Diet

While semaglutide does help to manage blood sugar levels, you can maximize its overall effectiveness by minimizing the amount of added sugar you consume. Start with the obvious: cut back on soda and sugary beverages, put less (or no) sugar in your coffee or tea, and eat fewer sweets. But don’t forget about all the added sugar that’s hiding out in the grocery store aisles. Just check the labels for “added sugar”, and you might be surprised by what you find!

Add More (Lean) Protein to Your Diet

Keep your body satiated and energized throughout the day by including 20-30 grams of protein per meal. Foods packed with protein include…

• Lean Beef
• Fish
• Chicken Breast
• Eggs
• Cottage Cheese
• Greek Yogurt
• Tree Nuts
• Beans

Add More Fiber to Your Diet

We can’t say it enough: Eat more fiber! Fiber is essential for slowing the digestive process, managing blood sugar, helping you feel “full” longer, improving gut biome health, and (as a bonus) keeping you regular. Oh, and fiber can also help prevent colorectal cancer.

Adults should consume 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day. (Most adults in the U.S. get only about half that amount.) Fortunately, it’s not difficult to achieve this. Just one cup of beans can contain as much as 15 grams of fiber. Prefer something a little sweeter? A cup of raspberries provides 8 grams of fiber! A cup of instant oatmeal provides 5 grams.

Cut Fried and Fatty Foods

Fatty or greasy foods are already more difficult for your body to digest. With semaglutide, some patients report more discomfort or even nausea after consuming them. You don’t have to give them up, but you’ll feel better and see results faster when you cut back.

Increase Your Physical Activity

You don’t need a vigorous exercise routine to help you lose weight. But physical activity is an important component of any weight loss program. You can easily increase it by modifying your daily activities. 

Get Enough Quality Sleep

How much sleep you get, and how good it is, can have consequences for your weight and your overall health. Put simply, when you’re feeling tired, you’re more likely to expend less energy but consume more calories.

This is INCREDIBLY important and a question that you should ask.

Our Semaglutide comes from a highly reputable, sterile compound pharmacy in the Southeast.  It is critical that you know that your medication is coming from a nationally accredited compounding pharmacy and that it is registered with the FDA.