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Weekly injections of semaglutide medications, such as Ozempic, have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of serious kidney outcomes, major cardiovascular events, and death in people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, according to a recent study. These drugs have become tremendously popular because of their potential for diabetes management and weight loss.
Semaglutide Injections
Semaglutide is a type of GLP-1 receptor agonist. This is a class of drug that mimics a hormone which increases insulin production. In turn, this suppresses glucagon, and slows gastric emptying. These effects help lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss. Both of these outcomes are important for anyone managing type 2 diabetes. Ozempic, a widely used semaglutide medication, has been approved for diabetes treatment. A higher-dose version, Wegovy, is approved for weight management.
Semaglutide's popularity is growing due to its broad range of benefits. It not only helps control blood sugar levels and supports weight loss, but also has positive effects on cardiovascular health and potentially reduces the risk of addiction.
Study Results
The new study showed that weekly injections of semaglutide reduced severe outcomes from diabetic kidney disease by about 24%. Among trial participants treated with semaglutide, there were 331 severe kidney-related events, compared to 410 events in those receiving a placebo. The injections also slowed the overall decline in kidney function. This reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attacks by 18%, and lowered the risk of death from any cause by 20%.
The trial included about 3,500 participants across 28 countries who were living with both type 2 diabetes and kidney disease. About half of the participants got weekly 1-milligram injections of semaglutide while the other half received a placebo. The participants were followed for an average of 3½ years. The trial did end early due to the significant and promising results observed midway.
Future Research
There are challenges in making sure the people who would benefit most from semaglutide have access to it. There are significant disparities in diabetes and kidney disease prevalence, with Black, Hispanic, and American Indian adults in the US being nearly twice as likely to have diabetes and more likely to develop kidney failure than White adults. Most participants in the trial were White, which limits the evaluation of the drug's benefits among other racial groups.
There is still a need to identify and treat kidney disease early, particularly in high-risk populations. Regular testing for kidney disease among people with diabetes is crucial but often overlooked! It is usually only done when the disease has progressed to later stages.
Semaglutide medications like Ozempic are becoming increasingly popular. They can manage multiple health issues associated with diabetes. They also offer significant benefits in reducing severe kidney and cardiovascular outcomes. The challenge now lies in ensuring these benefits reach all patients in need.