Semaglutide is an injectable medication used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It can also be used for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition.
Semaglutide works by mimicking the effects of a naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This hormone helps the body produce more insulin when needed and reduces the amount of sugar released into the bloodstream after a meal.
Benefits of semaglutide treatment include:
This article will provide an overview of semaglutide, its uses, side effects, and what to expect when obtaining treatment at Butterfly Hormone Center in Ticonderoga.
One of the major benefits of semaglutide is significant weight loss in overweight and obese patients. In clinical trials, people taking semaglutide lost on average 12-15% of their body weight over 15 months.
Compared to other weight loss medications, semaglutide is more effective at higher doses of 2.4mg once weekly. People taking this dose lost up to 17% of their initial body weight.
Semaglutide promotes weight loss through several mechanisms:
For many people struggling with obesity and overweight, semaglutide can be life-changing treatment. Losing 10-15% or more body weight can lead to improved health, reduced risk factors, and better quality of life.
That’s why Butterfly Hormone Center offers semaglutide specifically for chronic weight management in Ticonderoga residents.
To qualify for semaglutide injections for weight loss, patients must:
In some cases, those with a BMI as low as 27 kg/m2 (overweight) may also qualify if they have additional risk factors.
Butterfly Hormone Center clinicians will complete a full eligibility assessment during the initial consultation. Not everyone is a suitable candidate for semaglutide treatment.
In clinical trials, semaglutide has shown impressive weight loss results. Most people lose:
However, weight loss results can vary significantly from person to person. Several factors impact individual success on semaglutide, including:
The medical team at Butterfly Hormone Center will work closely with each patient to develop realistic weight loss goals based on the individual’s health profile and risk factors. Regular monitoring and dose adjustments help optimize results.
If you’re interested in using semaglutide for diabetes management or weight loss, the first step is to schedule a consultation at Butterfly Hormone Center in Ticonderoga.
During the first appointment, our clinicians will:
This information is needed to determine if semaglutide treatment is appropriate, establish dosage, and monitor progress.
Based on the assessment, our doctor may prescribe once-weekly semaglutide injections to be administered at home by the patient.
Semaglutide is injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm using a pre-filled pen device. The starting dosage is 0.25mg or 0.5mg once weekly.
After one month, the dose may be increased to 1mg or 2.4mg if well-tolerated. Higher maintenance doses of 1-2.4mg lead to increased weight loss benefits.
When beginning semaglutide, patients may experience temporary side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. These typically resolve within 4-8 weeks as the body adjusts.
Patients taking semaglutide require ongoing medical supervision, typically involving appointments every 3 months. This allows our clinicians to:
With consistent long-term treatment (12-15 months), semaglutide enables most patients to lose significant weight and body fat while lowering disease risks - leading to remarkable health transformation.
While best known for weight loss, semaglutide offers other advantages that improve health:
Semaglutide was originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. It helps regulate blood sugar levels in several ways:
In clinical studies, semaglutide lowered HbA1c (average glucose) by up to 2% points compared to placebo. Taking it consistently significantly reduces complications of diabetes.
People with obesity and diabetes have elevated risks of major cardiovascular events like stroke and heart attack.
Exciting research shows that semaglutide provides considerable protective effects on the heart and circulatory system beyond weight loss alone.
Specifically, it was found to lower rates of cardiovascular death, nonfatal stroke, and nonfatal heart attack by over 30%. These results position semaglutide as a first-line treatment option for at-risk patients.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - caused by fat accumulation in liver cells - afflicts up to 40% of adults with severe obesity. Over time, it can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure.
In multiple studies, semaglutide demonstrated significant reductions in liver fat content by up to 40-50% from baseline compared to control groups. It also lowers levels of blood enzymes indicating liver injury.
Through its unique mechanisms, semaglutide shows promise in resolving one of the most common complications of obesity - NAFLD.
The Importance of Proper Hormone Balance
Maintaining healthy hormone levels is essential for overall wellbeing and keeping disorders like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease at bay. However, hormone deficiencies and imbalances are quite common - especially with aging.
When pituitary, thyroid, reproductive, or metabolic hormones are not regulated properly, patients experience distressing signs and symptoms such as:
Fortunately, innovative medications like semaglutide can effectively restore hormone equilibrium when combined with lifestyle optimization.
Semaglutide is structurally similar to a human hormone called GLP-1. When injected, it mimics the effects of GLP-1 leading to increased insulin production, suppressed appetite, and slower stomach emptying. This novel mechanism helps explain semaglutide's unprecedented ability among diabetes drugs to lower HbA1c by up to 2% in clinical trials.
Attempting to manage hormone-related conditions with only diet and exercise is often ineffective long-term for most patients. And leaving deficiencies untreated allows metabolic abnormalities and disease progression to spiral out of control.
That’s why early intervention with targeted therapy provides the best opportunity to turn the tide - before permanent complications set in.
The expert medical team at Butterfly Hormone Center prioritizes rapid and accurate diagnosis followed by prompt initiation of treatment including medications like semaglutide.
We understand that intervening in the early, more responsive phases of hormone imbalance offers the greatest chance for transformative improvements in symptoms and reversal of pathology.
Our passion is providing patients the tools they need - like semaglutide injections - to take charge of their health now before it’s too late. We believe taking action today leads to a happier, healthier life for decades to come.
Residents of Ticonderoga can access individualized semaglutide treatment at our welcoming clinic. Butterfly Hormone Center provides compassionate care rooted in:
We strive to serve as partners and advocates in your health journey - empowering patients with education, support, and breakthrough therapies to live life to the fullest.
Additional Resources in Ticonderoga
To help patients achieve sustainable success on semaglutide treatment, we’ve compiled a list of valuable local resources:
Lifestyle Changes for Best Results
To maximize semaglutide effectiveness, we provide personalized strategies including:
Crafting an optimal anti-inflammatory diet high in vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats enhances weight loss, balances hormones, and reduces disease risk factors amplified by obesity.
Our team works with each patient to design a customized fitness regimen that fits their needs and abilities to augment semaglutide-induced fat burning. We adjust activity recommendations throughout the weight loss process to keep patients progressing.
Unmanaged emotional stress and poor sleep sabotage treatment success. We offer testing, counseling, and coping techniques for managing life’s demands in a healthy way. Restorative sleep is essential for productive semaglutide therapy.
Making sustainable nutrition, exercise, stress, and sleep habit changes amplifies semaglutide effectiveness for robust health improvements over the long term. Our practitioners stand ready to guide patients through every facet of lifestyle transformation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Semaglutide
Semaglutide comes in a user-friendly pre-filled pen that allows patients to self-inject just under skin of abdomen, thigh, or upper arm once weekly. Our staff provides device training and injection technique guidance.
When first starting, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite may occur as the body adjusts. These typically resolve within 1-2 months. Injecting with food or adjusting timing of dose can alleviate stomach issues.
Yes, we will submit necessary documentation to your health plan requesting prior approval for semaglutide coverage based on medical necessity criteria. This may take several weeks.
With insurance approval, most patients pay $25 - $150 per month for semaglutide through their prescription plan depending on specific copays and deductibles. Financial assistance resources may be available for those with difficulties affording treatment.
Improvements in blood glucose control happen within the first 1-2 weeks. Slow, steady weight loss becomes evident around week 4-6 and continues ramping up over subsequent months of therapy.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has shown how transformative semaglutide treatment through Butterfly Hormone Center can be for Ticonderoga residents battling obesity and related health conditions. To learn more or schedule your initial consultation, visit our website or call our office.
Our caring medical team looks forward to partnering with you on your path to better health with semaglutide!
