What is semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a medicine which is similar to a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 is produced in the body after eating a meal. Drugs belonging to the GLP-1 drug class are normally given as an injection and some are already available on the market to treat diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Studies of semaglutide suggest it has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, including reducing blood pressure and improving levels of fat in the blood.
What is GLP-1? It sounds complicated!
Your body naturally produces a number of substances that affect your appetite. One of these is called GPL-1. GPL-1 is a hormone that is produced when you eat. It stops you feeling hungry and makes you feel full. It also improves your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels.
Semaglutide is a modified version of GLP-1 which has been developed to last for a long time in the body, and therefore only needs to be injected once a week.
- Reduce energy intake: Semaglutide reduces feelings of hunger which means you eat less food. This helps to reduce your body weight, when combined with a healthy diet and exercise
- Effect on plaques: Semaglutide has been shown to stop the progression of plaques in blood vessels in studies of animals
- Reduced blood sugar: If your blood sugar levels are too high, semaglutide helps to lower them