The A1C test is a blood test that shows your blood sugar levels over the past two to three months and this helps in evaluating whether you are suffering from diabetes.
Living with diabetes can be managed by proper medication. However, you may have questions regarding the medications available to you. Here, we will take a
closer look at two medications, Ozempic and Saxenda, so that you can see how these medications can impact your health.
A CLOSER LOOK AT DIABETES
Diabetes can be divided into two categories, type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and is commonly diagnosed in children. Individuals with T1D require lifelong insulin treatment to manage their diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed later in life due to genetics, lifestyle, and other risk factors. Unlike T1D, there are numerous treatment options other than insulin
therapy to manage type 2 diabetes.
GLP-1 RECEPTOR AGONISTS
A common drug class used to treat type 2 diabetes is glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. GLP-1 receptor agonists work by lowering blood glucose and
slowing gastric emptying. Benefits of using a GLP-1 receptor agonist include: weight loss, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) benefits, lowering A1C
values, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) benefits with little risk of hypoglycemia. Common GLP-1 receptor agonist side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
weight loss, and injection site reactions. GLP-1 receptor agonists should not be used in patients with a personal or a family history of medullary thyroid cancer.