What Does Ozempic Do and How Does It Work?

Written and Fact-Checked by 1440

Updated July 28, 2024

Ozempic is a weekly injection that is approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Its active ingredient is semaglutide and Ozempic is part of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists class of drugs.

This medication has recently gained traction in the media because of its hunger control capabilities, causing some people to use it as a weight loss drug. However, like all medications, Ozempic comes with side effects. Learn more about this medication and how Ozempic works.

The Science Behind Ozempic

Ozempic is a useful drug for managing blood sugar levels if you have type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide mimics the hormone incretin that’s naturally found in your body and tells your pancreas to produce more insulin. When your body produces more insulin, it can turn the glucose sugar in the food you consume into energy. Essentially, it helps your body get more from the food you eat.

Ozempic also slows the speed at which food moves through your stomach, which is known as gastric emptying. This gives the body more time to digest the food and pull nutrients from what you eat. Slowing down your digestion can also make you feel fuller for longer, reducing your chances of overeating.

What Is Ozempic Used For?

Ozempic is approved to treat type 2 diabetes, but it can also be used for weight loss. This is because the medication changes how your body digests food and how your brain responds to food cravings.

Ozempic for Weight Loss

Ozempic is exclusively approved to treat type 2 diabetes, but patients increasingly take this medication for weight loss. This is because semaglutide slows down your digestion and makes you feel full. This medication is also known to bust food cravings by turning off the part of your brain that says you're hungry.

If you’re considering taking a weight-loss medication, your doctor might prescribe Wegovy, which is a weight-loss medication that also uses semaglutide and works like Ozempic.

Though medication like Wegovy can help you lose weight, it’s not meant to be used by itself. Your doctor will recommend a balanced, well-portioned diet and regular exercise routine to make your weight loss sustainable.

Ozempic and Blood Sugar Control

Ozempic was approved as a medication to treat type 2 diabetes in 2018 in Germany and continues to be approved and recommended by various other medical agencies around the world. It’s an effective medication for people who have high blood sugar levels and need to increase their insulin production to better process glucose. One important benefit of Ozempic is that it can be combined with other blood sugar-lowering drugs, helping patients with type 2 diabetes take control of this disease.

Ozempic is recommended for people who have not been able to manage their blood sugar through diet and exercise. Whether you use this medication for type 2 diabetes or weight loss, your doctor will recommend maintaining a healthy diet and adopting good exercise habits. These can support your diabetes management.

Side Effects and Considerations

Every patient is different, which means some people might have a more severe reaction to Ozempic than others. Some patients might have mild side effects or none at all. A few common side effects of this medication include:

• Nausea;

• Vomiting;

• Constipation;

• Diarrhea;

• Abdominal pain.

The side effects are often most notable when you first start taking the medication or if you have a dosage increase. As your body gets used to Ozempic, the side effects may fade.

Ozempic is safe for the majority of patients, but some rare side effects can be severe. Patients may develop stomach paralysis if the food in their digestive tract stops moving entirely. Some patients may also develop pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas.

Talk to your doctor about your side effects if they disrupt your life. If you have a severe reaction to Ozempic, seek medical care immediately.

Comparing Ozempic to Other Diabetes Medications

Ozempic is one of the best-known injectable medications to treat type 2 diabetes on the market. However, there are different prescriptions your doctor might recommend based on your health and experience with semaglutide. Here are a few other options.

• Wegovy is another well-known medication that’s approved to treat weight loss. Your doctor may recommend it if you don’t have type 2 diabetes.
• Mounjaro is similar to Ozempic and is made by a competitor. Your doctor may choose this prescription if it’s more affordable or results in fewer side effects for your body.
• Saxenda is another weight loss medication that’s lesser known than the other three. However, it can support weight loss and treat type 2 diabetes.

There are many reasons why your doctor might recommend Ozempic compared to the other options listed here. They might have heard of and researched the medication, which makes them feel more comfortable prescribing it to patients. Each doctor has their own experiences and personal preferences when writing prescriptions.

Diet and Lifestyle Considerations While on Ozempic

While Ozempic can be a useful tool for treating your type 2 diabetes or starting your weight loss journey, it isn’t a miracle drug that works on its own. You can support this medication by making healthy lifestyle changes that will help your body even if you stop taking the drug. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind if you want to maximize the effects of Ozempic.

• Find exercise options you love. Whether you enjoy walking your dog or swimming laps at the pool, frequent exercise can boost your cardiovascular health and help you build muscle. Exercising for 150 minutes a week, or roughly 20 minutes a day, can also help with weight management.
• Embrace a healthy diet. Doctors specifically recommend reducing the consumption of high-fat foods and alcohol if you’re on this medication.
• Listen to your body. If you experience significant negative side effects while on Ozempic, tell your doctor. They might change you to another brand or treatment option that makes you feel better.

Adopting healthy habits related to diet and exercise can support your body in several ways. You might discover that you have more energy, can concentrate more at work, and have a stronger immune system.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor may recommend Ozempic to regulate your blood sugar levels. This injectable, when paired with diet and exercise, can help you live a healthy, happy life.

Disclaimer:

The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.

FORBIDDEN LOVE TURNS FATAL: Catholic Priest Murdered URA Officer Over Woman

https://theinsider.ug/index.php/2025/03/11/forbidden-love-turns-fatal-catholic-priest-murdered-ura-officer-over-woman/

CRIME

FORBIDDEN LOVE TURNS FATAL: Catholic Priest Murdered URA Officer Over Woman

BY ADMINIMARCH 11, 2025NO COMMENTS4 MINS READ

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has laid bare shocking evidence in the Entebbe Chief Magistrate’s Court against a Catholic priest accused of brutally murdering a man in what appears to be a love affair turned deadly.

Prosecutor Janet Kitimbo presented the damning indictment against Rev. Fr. Dominic Alinga on January 11, painting a chilling picture of betrayal, rage, and deadly consequences.

Fr. Alinga allegedly killed his close friend, John Bosco Ngorok, an employee of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), in a fit of passion after discovering Ngorok had been involved with his secret lover.

To make matters worse, Ngorok was accused of exposing the affair to the church, leading to Fr. Alinga’s suspension.

Bound by his vows, Fr. Alinga was expected to remain celibate, but his desires had led him down a forbidden path. When Ngorok betrayed him, the consequences were fatal.

According to the prosecution’s evidence, on the fateful night of August 2, Fr. Alinga lured Ngorok into his vehicle under the guise of reconciliation.

CCTV footage captured the two together, heading down the Kampala-Entebbe Express Highway.

But instead of seeking peace, the priest had already made up his mind—his revenge would be swift and merciless.

Earlier that evening, Fr. Alinga had been seen purchasing a knife at Port Bell Supermarket in Kireka. He examined it carefully, as though choosing the perfect instrument for his crime.

This same weapon, the prosecution asserts, would later be used to slash his friend’s throat in a cold-blooded attack.

At around 11 p.m., the priest confronted Ngorok in the car, accusing him of spilling secrets to the church leadership. The conversation turned heated, and in a moment of blind fury, he stabbed Ngorok in the neck.

The wounded man, bleeding profusely, staggered out of the vehicle in a desperate attempt to save himself.

A passing motorcyclist, Mugisha, witnessed Ngorok’s frantic escape. The dying man pleaded for help, but before he could be rescued, Fr. Alinga chased after him, claiming he was a thief.

When Mugisha hesitated, the priest changed his story, saying Ngorok was his brother and needed urgent assistance.

Under this guise, the priest joined Mugisha on his motorcycle, pretending to help track down his victim. But once he caught up with the weakened Ngorok, he attacked him again, beating him as his life slipped away.

Ngorok, barely conscious, was placed on the motorcycle and rushed to the hospital, where he made his final, damning confession.

He called his relatives, telling them to prepare to collect his body—Fr. Alinga had killed him over a woman. His words would be his last.

The prosecution detailed how the priest, in a final act of cruelty, deliberately ran over Ngorok and the motorcyclist, knocking them off the road before abandoning his vehicle and fleeing the scene.

But the net was already closing in.

After the murder, Fr. Alinga sought refuge at a friend’s house, confessing his crime. But with media reports already naming him as the prime suspect, his friend convinced him to surrender to the authorities.

The evidence against the priest is overwhelming.

The prosecution will rely on CCTV footage, forensic reports, a postmortem examination, a crime scene reconstruction, DNA analysis, and telephone records, among other pieces of evidence, to prove its case.

Following the reading of the charges, Chief Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis committed Fr. Alinga to the High Court for trial. Until then, he remains in custody at Kigo Prison, awaiting justice.

BACKGROUND

Initially, police reported that John Bosco Ngorok had been stabbed at around 1 a.m. on August 2 in Entebbe.

He had recently been assigned to the Domestic Tax Station there. Rev. Fr. Dominic Alinga fled the scene but was later arrested in Tororo, nearly 270 kilometers away.

The murder weapon was recovered, sealing his fate in a case of love, betrayal, and deadly retribution.

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