Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, as well as to promote weight loss in adults struggling with overweight or obesity related health issues when combined with diet and exercise.
Semaglutide works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that your body naturally produces in response to food intake. This hormone helps stimulate insulin production which controls blood sugar levels. Semaglutide also reduces appetite and promotes feelings of fullness which helps patients eat smaller meals in order to reduce their daily calorie intake. Ultimately, this leads to weight loss by shifting the overall energy balance equation in the body.
There are two main formulations of semaglutide currently available:
1) Ozempic (semaglutide injection) which is administered once weekly for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
2) Wegovy (semaglutide injection) which is administered once weekly specifically for chronic weight management. Both formulations contain the same active drug, but are approved for slightly different indications by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Semaglutide shots offer several key benefits which make them a valuable therapeutic option for certain patients at Renew Hormone Clinic:
For adults living with type 2 diabetes, semaglutide has been shown to provide superior blood sugar control compared to many other common diabetes medications. In clinical studies, over half of patients were able to decrease their A1c (a key marker of average blood sugar over 3 months) by at least 1% with once weekly semaglutide treatment. This level of A1c improvement is greater than typically seen with many oral diabetes drugs.
By improving blood sugar regulation, semaglutide helps reduce the risk of dangerous diabetes complications such as nerve damage, kidney disease, vision issues, cardiovascular disease and stroke over the long term.
In addition to blood sugar benefits, semaglutide offers substantial weight loss results for adults struggling with overweight or obesity. In studies, semaglutide treatment helped patients lose on average 15-18% of their total body weight over 68 weeks when combined with nutritional counseling and increased physical activity.
This degree of weight loss is much greater than typically achieved with just lifestyle changes alone and on par with some of the top performing anti-obesity medications to date. Weight loss with semaglutide also appears quite durable for most patients with continued treatment over time.
The weight reducing qualities of this medication stem from its beneficial impacts on appetite regulation, food intake, and energy utilization in the body. Patients often report feeling fuller quicker after eating and staying satiated for longer periods throughout the day with semaglutide.
In addition to clear benefits related to blood sugar and weight, emerging data suggests semaglutide may offer other broad health advantages as well:
While standard semaglutide injections can benefit many patients, Renew Hormone Clinic also offers fully customized semaglutide compounding services to even better meet individual patient needs:
Our expert compounding team works closely with patients and prescribers to formulate custom semaglutide regimens to ensure the best possible treatment outcome.
There are two main groups of patients who tend to benefit from semaglutide:
Semaglutide shots are FDA approved as an adjunct treatment option for improving blood sugar control in adults living with type 2 diabetes. Ideal candidates include those with:
Renew Hormone Clinicians can determine if adding once weekly semaglutide may help appropriate type 2 diabetes patients achieve better glucose regulation.
Semaglutide is also now FDA approved for chronic weight management in adults struggling with being overweight or obesity. Good candidates include those with:
By stimulating portions of the brain involved in appetite regulation, semaglutide often helps appropriate patients eat less, feel fuller faster, and lose substantial amounts of body weight over months of treatment.
Renew Hormone Clinic weight loss focused clinicians can determine if semaglutide shots may be a useful part of a comprehensive plan for eligible patients looking to improve their health through targeted weight reduction.
Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. By activating glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors, these drugs mimic several beneficial effects of the natural GLP-1 hormone in the body.
GLP-1 is normally secreted by intestinal cells shortly after eating a meal, with its levels rising and falling during the day depending on food consumption. This hormone has several key impacts:
By replicating these effects of GLP-1, semaglutide injections help modulate swings in blood sugar leading to improved average glucose control.
In addition to clear blood sugar benefits, GLP-1 activation influences body weight through effects on:
Through these central and peripheral mechanisms, semaglutide helps patients eat less, feel full faster, and ultimately lose significant weight over months of treatment.
Semaglutide is a newer type of injectable diabetes medication that not only helps lower blood sugar levels, but has also been shown in studies to promote moderate weight loss in many patients as a side effect. The potential weight loss benefits are currently being studied further for possible separate approval as an obesity drug in the future.
The process for getting started on semaglutide through Renew Hormone Clinic generally involves:
An initial telehealth or in-person consultation with one of our clinicians to:
Labs or other tests to establish a baseline prior to treatment such as:
After an initial workup, eligible patients can get a prescription for FDA approved Ozempic/Wegovy or customized compounded semaglutide. Our dedicated patient care team handles all ordering, insurance questions, and medication shipment to your preferred pharmacy.
Semaglutide dosing starts low and increments up slowly over 5-7 weeks to improve gastrointestinal tolerance. A typical schedule would be:
Week 1-4 - 0.25 mg once weekly Week 5-7 - 0.5 mg once weekly Week 8 - 1 mg once weekly (Or higher custom dose)
Patients check in regularly with our clinical team for injection teaching, side effect management, efficacy tracking, and dosage adjustments. We closely monitor key metrics like A1c, weight, blood pressure, and labs.
Renew Hormone Clinic provides cutting edge hormone therapy, integrative care, and advanced weight loss treatments informed by the latest scientific research and tailored to meet individual needs of Villages residents and visitors to Central Florida.
Our award winning clinical team stays on the leading edge of new advancements in the fields of preventive medicine, hormone therapy, anti-aging, age management, and precision weight loss. We continually update treatments and protocols as emerging studies further scientific understanding.
All programs like semaglutide plans are individually customized at Renew Hormone Clinic based on:
No two patients have the exact same needs or baseline health status so no two treatment regimens ever look the same at our clinics.
To provide comprehensive care under one roof, the Renew Hormone Clinic state-of-the-art functional health facilities in Central Florida feature:
Lab Testing – On-site diagnostics for rapid biomarker assessments and real time treatment tweaking:
Body Composition - Precise tracking of muscle, fat, and hydration via:
Fitness Center – Clinical grade center with cardiorespiratory and resistance training equipment to optimize patient health during treatment.
Our expert staff provides science based guidance on implementing positive changes related to key lifestyle factors that influence treatment success and long term health like:
While very effective for many, semaglutide treatment does come with some important considerations Renew Hormone Clinic patients should keep in mind:
Semaglutide works best when taken consistently over an extended period of time. Most experts recommend continuing treatment for 12-24 months for robust weight loss followed by indefinite maintenance dosing along with diet and activity changes to sustain results long term.
Results tend to be very durable with continued use of semaglutide but weight loss effects quickly fade upon stopping treatment. Therefore, patients should be prepared to commit to longer term weekly usage to get the full benefits.
The most common side effects of semaglutide involve the gastrointestinal system as the medication slows digestion. Up to 20% of patients may experience temporary nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, bloating, heartburn/reflux, loss of appetite, etc - especially early in treatment.
Proper dose titration and taking injections with food can help mitigate adverse GI effects. Our clinicians also provide additional anti-nausea guidance. Most tolerance improves significantly within 4-8 weeks but GI issues can persist longer term for some.
A small percentage of patients report other possible side effects like headache, fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches, reactions at the injection site, or various other issues. Semaglutide may also slightly increase heart rate in some people. Renew Hormone ClinicHormores providers monitor key metrics to catch any unusual patterns early.
Semaglutide is not appropriate for everyone. Caution is urged for patients with:
Renew Hormone Clinicians carefully screen candidates to ensure safety and appropriate use.
Successfully losing weight and sustaining results long term with semaglutide requires implementing positive lifestyle changes. Renew Hormone Clinic and the Villages area offers ample amenities and resources to help support residents in these efforts.
Our licensed nutritionists work closely with patients to design structured, realistic meal plans tailored to food preferences, health conditions, mobility levels and more. We provide access to extensive Villages area restaurant guides highlighting menu items compatible with any clinical diet recommendations.
The Renew Hormone Clinical grade fitness center allows patients undergoing intensive weight loss therapy to exercise safely under expert supervision. We also offer customized fitness training focused on improving flexibility, balance, coordination, strength, and cardiorespiratory endurance.
The Villages features over 50 miles of walking trails allowing patients easy access to low impact physical activity conducive to weight loss goals. Our wellness team helps determine optimal intensities and distances for walking programs compatible with current health and function.
Losing substantial weight requires mental fortitude and resiliency. Our mind-body focused team incorporates holistic modalities like biofeedback, breathing training, mindfulness courses, meditation, yoga therapy, spa treatments, and more into programs. Improving mental health is key for long term success.
Renew Hormone Clinic maintains close partnerships with various Weight Watchers groups, personal trainers, physical therapists, massage clinics, psychiatrists, bariatric surgeons, and other specialty providers in Sumter county. Our doctors and staff regularly refer patients to these outside allied health experts for enhanced support.
With over 115,000 local residents, The Villages retirement community provides nearly perfect conditions to complement medical weight loss efforts like semaglutide treatment.
With average annual high temperatures of around 82°F, the hot central Florida climate means more opportunities to partake in active outdoor weight loss supportive activities year-round like golf, swimming, walking, tennis and water aerobics.
The laid back pace and plethora of entertainment in this retirement Mecca lends itself well to minimizing anxiety often associated with intensive lifestyle modification programs. Less stress supports consistency with diet and activity goals.
Unfortunately one downside of the unmatched amenities in The Villages is ready access to fried comfort foods, alcoholic beverages, sweet baked goods and high calorie lattes – all of which may promote weight gain or sabotage weight loss efforts if consumed in excess. Residents must be diligent curbing cravings by pre-planning meals and activities that align with clinical diet guidelines which our staff is happy to provide guidance on as needed!
