RENO, Nev. (775 Times, NV Globe) – The CDC estimates that one in ten Americans have diabetes, with type 2 accounting for the majority of cases.
“(It) is basically a chronic metabolic condition, where the person has kind of elevated blood-glucose levels. So, in their blood they just have extra sugar,” said Dr. Maria Fernandez, a family physician at Community Health Alliance.
Ozempic, according to her, is one of the most widely used diabetic drugs and therapies.
“Ozempic is considered a glp1, a glucagon-like peptide-1,” said Fernandez. This type of medication mimics the action of a hormone and help lower blood sugar levels.
But there are other advantages as well. Additionally, it helps with weight loss and heart health.
The drug’s popularity is rising as a result of widespread social media sharing. “I have patients that have trouble receiving the medicine, and I’ve known via our pharmacies that we have ebbs in flow of when we have the drug and when we don’t,” said Fernandez.
Experts assert that the current scarcity is more a result of the injection’s numerous advantages paired with demand and issues in supply chains brought on by COVID than it is the reckless use.
With insulin, not having access to the drug might be harmful or even fatal. However, the medicine is beneficial for many people, and switching the dose frequency might be difficult.
“Ozempic is a once weekly injection and so, we could switch to another one that’s also once weekly like Trulicity, but usually, sometimes we have to switch to the more available Victoza, which is a daily injection. So yeah, it is challenging if we make that switch,” said Fernandez.
Dr. Fernandez advises speaking with your doctor to explore your alternatives if you’re having problems locating this drug. Please be aware that Community Health Alliance is now taking new patients anywhere it is located.
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