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DECEMBER 19, 2023

Ozempic®: Elevating Type 2 Diabetes Care

What Is Ozempic® (semaglutide) Injection?

Discover the Power of 3 in the Ozempic® Tri-Zone

Lowering A1C is an important part of managing type 2 diabetes. But so is managing your potential risk of major cardiovascular (CV) events if you also have known heart disease. Ozempic®, along with diet and exercise, is proven to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. In adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease, Ozempic® reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death. You may also lose some weight.

Ozempic® provides powerful A1C reductiona

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that a reasonable goal for most adults with type 2 diabetes is an A1C less than 7%. Your health care provider will tell you what goal is right for you.

A majority of adults taking Ozempic® reached an A1C under 7% and maintained it.b

aIn 2 different studies, adults lowered A1C, on average, by:

  • Ozempic®: 1.4% (0.5 mg) and 1.6% (1 mg) vs placebo: 0.1%
  • Ozempic®: 1.9% (1 mg) and 2.1% (2 mg), taking 1 or 2 diabetes pills

from a starting average A1C of 8.0% and 8.9%, respectively.

In the same 2 studies, the majority of people reached an A1C under 7%:

  • Ozempic®: 73% (0.5 mg) and 70% (1 mg) vs placebo: 28%
  • Ozempic®: 56% (1 mg) and 64% (2 mg)
  • Ozempic® lowers the risk of major CV events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults also with known heart disease.
  • People with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease are at a greater risk of major CV events such as stroke, heart attack, or death. Ozempic® is proven to significantly lower those risks.

Ozempic® may help you lose some weight

Ozempic® is a medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes that, along with diet and exercise, may improve blood sugar. While not for weight loss, Ozempic® may help you lose some weight.

Adults with type 2 diabetes taking Ozempic® lost up to 14 pounds.c

cOzempic® is not a weight-loss drug. In the same 2 studies looking at A1C, adults with type 2 diabetes lost on average:

  • Ozempic®: 8 lb (0.5 mg) and 10 lb (1 mg) vs placebo: 3 lb
  • Ozempic®: 12 lb (1 mg) and 14 lb (2 mg)

from an average starting weight of 202 lb and 219 lb, respectively. Important Safety Information

Do not share your Ozempic® pen with other people, even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them.

What is the most important information I should know about Ozempic®?

Ozempic® may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your health care provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, Ozempic® and medicines that work like Ozempic® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Ozempic® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.
  • Do not use Ozempic® if you or any of your family have ever had MTC, or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

Do not use Ozempic® if:

  • you or any of your family have ever had MTC or if you have MEN 2.
  • you are allergic to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Ozempic®. See symptoms of serious allergic reaction in “What are the possible side effects of Ozempic®?”.

Before using Ozempic®, tell your health care provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:

  • have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneys.
  • have a history of diabetic retinopathy.
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed. It is not known if Ozempic® will harm your unborn baby or passes into your breast milk. You should stop using Ozempic® 2 months before you plan to become pregnant.

Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements, and other medicines to treat diabetes, including insulin or sulfonylureas.

What are the possible side effects of Ozempic®?

Ozempic® may cause serious side effects, including:

  • inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Ozempic® and call your health care provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.
  • changes in vision. Tell your health care provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Ozempic®.
  • low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your risk for getting low blood sugar may be higher if you use Ozempic® with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include: dizziness or lightheadedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, and feeling jittery.
  • kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration.
  • serious allergic reactions. Stop using Ozempic® and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeat.
  • gallbladder problems. Gallbladder problems have happened in some people who take Ozempic®. Tell your health care provider right away if you get symptoms which may include: pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools.

The most common side effects of Ozempic® may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain, and constipation.

What is Ozempic®?

Ozempic® (semaglutide) injection 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used:

  • along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes.
  • to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes with known heart disease.

It is not known if Ozempic® can be used in people who have had pancreatitis.
Ozempic® is not for use in people with type 1 diabetes.
It is not known if Ozempic® is safe and effective for use in children under 18 years of age.

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