Glucagon like peptide (GLP-1)is a type of hormone known as an incretin that’s lower than normal in type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 receptor agonists as well as GIP receptor agonists belong to a class of medications known as incretin mimetics.

By mimicking the effects of GLP-1, the GLP-1 receptor agonists have many effects. They work on various body organs including the brain, pancreas, liver, muscle and stomach with a net effect to manage blood sugar better and also allow people to lose weight. Our body’s natural GLP-1 works as a hormone that is secreted by intestinal cells in response to meals and then travels to the brain. Once in the brain, it works as a neurotransmitter in multiple brain regions that are involved in appetite regulation and food reward.

Some of the actions of these medications include:

• Zepbound (tirzepatide)
• Controlling appetite and blood sugar levels
• Helping the pancreas release an optimal amount of insulin, which transports glucose (sugar) to tissues in the body where it can be used for energy
• Slowing the rate at which food leaves the stomach, which helps to control post-prandial (after-meal) blood sugar levels and also allows you to full for a longer period of time
• Decreasing hunger, increasing satiety (feeling full) and decreasing the food reward system

While these are all GLP-1 agonist medications, some are FDA-approved only to treat diabetes and others are FDA-approved for weight loss alone. The physicians at Cape Fear Physical Medicine & Rehab are able to determine which of these medications is best for your particular medical issue as well as which are more likely to be covered by your insurance based on your medical diagnoses.

YES!! While these medications can help significantly with weight loss, you need to optimize your diet with adequate protein and add weight training to your exercise regimen to maintain your lean muscle mass. Without monitoring these things, you may end up losing muscle mass which ultimately will decrease your metabolic rate and overall fitness. At Cape Fear Physical Medicine & Rehab, we focus on MORE than just weight loss. We want to help you become the most fit.

The medication Semaglutide GLP-1 is used for weight loss in certain patients, as well as to lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes in patients with type two diabetes. In addition to increasing insulin release, lowering glucagon release, delaying gastric emptying, and reducing appetite, Semaglutide GLP-1 is a GLP-1 agonist.

The effects of Semaglutide GLP-1 include increasing insulin levels, lowering glucagon levels, and delaying gastric emptying in order to lower high blood sugar levels. Additionally, Semaglutide GLP-1 helps control appetite, thereby reducing the amount of food you want to eat.

Your appetite and digestion are controlled by GLP-1, an incretin hormone. As soon as you eat, your body releases incretins – hormones that are released by the digestive system.

Additionally, they slow down the rate at which food leaves your stomach (called gastric emptying). You feel full as a result of these actions, which lowers your appetite and causes you to lose weight. Incretin mimetics are medications that mimic incretin effects, such as GLP-1 agonists.

The medication Semaglutide GLP-1 is a GLP-1 receptor agonist or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. When taken in higher doses, it affects brain centers and suppresses appetite. A lifestyle intervention should be used along with this medication. Patients taking this medicine are able to follow a diet that is low in calories. Changing your lifestyle as well as taking medicine is always necessary when you have obesity.

Your doctor will generally instruct you to inject this medication once per week in the thigh, abdomen or upper arm. Dosing starts out low and gradually goes up based on side effects and the amount and speed of weight loss.

In addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity, Semaglutide GLP-1 injection is used for chronic weight management in obese or overweight adults with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol).

The obesity rate among American adults is approximately 70%. A person who is overweight or obese is at a heightened risk of poor health such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, and may also increase the risk of certain forms of cancer.

Patients with obesity or who are overweight who lose 5% to 10% of their body weight through diet and exercise have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The level of weight that can be lost through the use of Semaglutide GLP-1 injections is nearly unmatched among weight loss drugs. Some patients lose such significant quantities of weight so as to challenge the effectiveness of weight loss surgery in a minimally invasive manner.

Semaglutide GLP-1’s results have been far more dramatic than those of other weight loss medications. Surgical weight loss options are not appropriate for all patients, and Semaglutide GLP-1 seems to be a safe and effective long-term intervention to lose weight. Adults with at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol, can take Semaglutide GLP-1 for chronic weight management. Not everyone will be a suitable candidate for Semaglutide GLP-1, ask your doctor if it is right for you.

Semaglutide GLP-1 injections for weight loss are available at Cape Fear Physical Medicine and Rehab. Contact us today for more information or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 1540 Purdue Dr, Ste. 200, in Fayetteville, NC 28303. We serve patients from Fayetteville NC, Hope Mills NC, Cedar Creek NC, Eastover NC, Woodfield NC, and Fenix NC.