My Diabetes Meds Went Viral

I started taking Ozempic over a year ago. It's been a great tool for me to manage my diabetes and control my blood sugar. Imagine my surprise when it went "viral."

Ozempic has received a lot of attention recently due to people without diabetes taking it for weight loss, others sharing how it creates "Ozempic Face," and the drug even going through shortages in some places. I'm shocked and saddened, and I feel several emotions about how my diabetes meds got so much attention.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a brand-name drug (semaglutide) and is usually administered as an injection. Without getting too clinical, for which I'm not qualified, the basics are that it helps control blood sugar together with diet and exercise. Ozempic may result in weight loss for some people.¹

My experience taking Ozempic for type 2 diabetes

This medication has really been helpful to me. Not only have I lost almost 70 pounds, my A1C dropped from around 12 to about 5.5. In fact, my blood sugar is now considered in the normal range.

This doesn't mean that I no longer have diabetes, but it does mean that my diabetes is controlled. Had I had those numbers in the past, I probably wouldn't have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

For me, this is a tool that has worked to manage my diabetes. It's not something I was prescribed just to lose weight. Instead, it is a drug that has helped me improve my blood sugar levels and hopefully avoid complications.

Hearing the rumors that made Ozempic go viral

According to rumors, some celebrities are taking this drug to lose a few pounds. These celebrities are not people who also have diabetes; they're simply people who want to lose some weight. Now, we can't blame the medication users if they don't know it's meant for those with diabetes. I have read where some did not and simply followed their doctor's guidelines.

The other latest thing is called "Ozempic Face." All this means is that for some, their face gets gaunt or loses elasticity. The problem, though, is many are blaming the drug for this when, in reality, this can happen to anyone losing weight rapidly.

How it makes me feel

I know it's silly, but now I want to hide that I'm taking this drug because of all of this media attention. I've seen friends on social media say how they'd never take it because of "Ozempic Face."

I did try to educate a few, but you know how that is: people will believe what they want. And that's sad to me. I don't have this "face" simply because it took me over a year to lose that weight, and it was never rapid.

But now, my life-saving medication is a media sensation, and it's ridiculous. Why prescribe to those who don't have diabetes? Not to mention, there are other semaglutide drugs explicitly made for weight loss.

Fearing a shortage

The other bad thing about this is that due to people wanting the drug for weight loss, it has caused shortages in some areas. I haven't had that issue yet, but what if it happens? I need it, but what if I can't get it? It's a scary thought.

I hope that this calms down some and that people who do not have diabetes stop taking it. Maybe with so much information on it, they won't want to, which leaves more for those who need it.