In light of national diabetic awareness month, we should all take this month to acknowledge and be inspired by those who have been affected by diabetes. Managing diabetes can be tricky at times as it plays a huge factor in one’s weight, diet, and overall lifestyle. Today, traditional diabetic pharmacotherapies are negatively contributing to a patient’s ability to live unrestricted by their diabetic condition. Most are prescribed daily oral dosages of anti-diabetic medication. However, Ozempic is a once-weekly administration which provides patients with a treatment option that does not compromise their day to day lifestyle but yet, has a tremendous impact on improving their insulin levels.
Ozempic, an injectable insulin-like alternative, can either replace or be used in conjunction with traditional diabetic pharmacotherapies. This drug contains the non-insulin active substance, semaglutide (Chamberlin, 2019). It is also a once a weekly subcutaneous injection available as a prefilled pen. Ozempic is classified as a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist meaning it mimics the natural GLP-1 hormone present in the body (Aroda, et al., 2019). This comparison can be seen in Figure 1. This hormone activates the GLP-1 receptor resulting in a conformational change that initiates the sequence to convert ingested carbohydrates into glucose suitable for cellular glycolysis (MacDonald, 2002).
In those with Type II Diabetes, the naturally produced GLP-1 protein is insufficient and downregulates glucose clearing which in turn, would inhibit insulin production resulting in hyperglycemia (Chamberlin, 2019). This receptor is located in the pancreas which is responsible for glucose-dependent insulin secretion depending on the host’s blood glucose levels; increasing secretion when the levels are high and limiting secretion when the levels are low, resulting in glucose available for glycolysis (Novo Nordisk Canada, 2020). This would inhibit the cells to receive sufficient amounts of energy to function properly. This would then result in a need for an alternate means to promote insulin secretion to decrease the elevation of glucose within the bloodstream (MacDonald, 2002). This is when Ozempic is prescribed to become the new ligand for the GLP-1 receptor to bind and keep the transduction pathway going (Novo Nordisk Canada, 2020).
Semaglutide was also purposed as an oral delivery known as Rybelsus. When comparing the effectiveness of both the Ozempic and Rybelsus, Ozempic’s delivery is proved to be fast-acting providing the highest percent concentration (Figure 2). As Ozempic is subcutaneous, it enters the bloodstream immediately meaning the initial concentration is 100%. On the other hand, Rybelsus needs to be processed through the gastrointestinal tract to then enter the bloodstream. This delay seen in Rybelsus is significant as the oral delivery delays the action of the medication acting on the GLP-1 receptors which overall delays the increase in insulin secretion (Andreadis, 2018). This comparison in initial concentration versus time can be seen in Figure 2. Due to the frequent dosages Rybelsus requires, it makes it a less convenient option when compared to Ozempic.
With increased research and awareness in regards to the effectiveness of Ozempic, we can move towards advancement in the traditional treatment plans associated with managing diabetic conditions. Traditionally, diabetic patients have an array of medications to manage and consistently monitor although, but Ozempic provides patients with the opportunity to begin living their daily life with a once-weekly administration.
Works Cited
Andreadis, P., Karagiannis, T., Malandris, K., Avgerinos, I., Liakos, A., Manolopoulos, A., Bekiari, E., Matthews, D. and Tsapas, A., 2018. Semaglutide for type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 20.
Aroda et al, 2019. Comparative efficacy, safety, and cardiovascular outcomes with once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes: Insights from the SUSTAIN 1-7 trials. – Abstract – Europe PMC. [online] Available at: <https://europepmc.org/article/MED/30615985> [Accessed 15 Nov. 2020].
Chamberlin, S. and Dabbs, W., 2019. Semaglutide (Ozempic) for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. American Family Physician, 100(2), pp.116–117.
MacDonald, P.E., El-kholy, W., Riedel, M.J., Salapatek, A.M.F., Light, P.E. and Wheeler, M.B., 2002. The Multiple Actions of GLP-1 on the Process of Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion. Diabetes, 51(suppl 3), pp.S434–S442.
Novo Nordisk Canada, 2020. Product Monograph Including Patient Medication Information:Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) [pdf] Novo Nordisk Canada: Ozempic Available at: <https://www.novonordisk.ca/content/dam/Canada/AFFILIATE/www-novonordisk-ca/OurProducts/PDF/ozempic-product-monograph.pdf> [Accessed on November 19 2020].
PubChem, N.Da. Glucagon-like peptide 1. [online] Available at: <https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/16135499> [Accessed 18 Nov. 2020a].
PubChem, N.Db. Semaglutide. [online] Available at: <https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/56843331> [Accessed 19 Nov. 2020b].
Wesch, R., 2011. Absolute and Relative Bioavailability. In: H.G. Vogel, J. Maas and A. Gebauer, eds. Drug Discovery and Evaluation: Methods in Clinical Pharmacology. [online] Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.pp.173–180. Available at: <http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-540-89891-7_16> [Accessed 19 Nov. 2020].
Comments
11 Responses to “Epic Ozempic”
Hi iSci,
In light of diabetic awareness month, I choose to write about a diabetic pharmacotherapy I find fascinating. In addition, our unit focusing on modelling differential equations and the beginning of rp2 was an amazing link to this topic.
I hope you enjoy this read and I appreciate any feedback you have!
All the best,
Bianca
Hi Bianca,
I really enjoyed reading this blog on Ozempic and its potential benefits for treating diabetes. However, I do have some suggestions that may add to this article.
1.In paragraph one, you could add a comma after and in “and overall lifestyle”, this is not needed but I think it is more grammatically correct.
2.In your second paragraph, you start 3 sentences in a row with Ozempic, maybe try a new transition phrase to improve the clarity of your sentences. Something like “it” or “Furthermore” can make it sound less repetitive.
3.In your quote from Macdonald maybe change your phrasing to “In those with Type II Diabetes the GLP-1 protein is insufficient and downregulates glucose clearing”. To be honest, I think you can even take the next sentence involving insulin production and combine them into a singular sentence.
4.You don’t need “an” in “an advancement” in the last paragraph.
5.When you compare Ozempic and Rybelsus consider changing it to “fast-acting providing the highest percent concentration”.
Overall, I thought this blog was really well structured, and enjoyed reading it!
Happy editing!
Nikhil
Hi Nikhil,
Thank you for your feedback!!
You pointed somethings out that I completely missed and I will definitely be applying your suggestions to my final copy.
Thanks again,
Bianca
Hello Bianca,
When you told me about your blog I just knew I would be interested and had to come read it! It’s very interesting and well though of. I have a few suggestions for you:
– In paragraph 1 you talk about tradition diabetic pharmacotherapies having a negative affect on patients life style. I think you should talk about what these are to add context and relatability. You could also compare that to the lifestyle and commitments with Ozempic
– In paragraph 2 you start with the word “ozempic” a lot, it sounds repetitive. You may want to start sentences with different words. You could also combine some of these sentences.
– You should reference you Figure 1 in the text and “Figure” should be capitalized
– You may want to mention what you will be discussing in your first paragraph to give readers some context
Overall it was a great post and I found it very interesting.
Happy blogging,
Carly Burow
Hi Carly,
Thank you for your feedback!!
I noticed how frequently I was using “Ozempic” to begin sentences as I was posting my draft so thank you for reminding me to take a look at how I can correct that. In addition, you pointed out some corrections that I completely missed.
I will definitely be applying your suggestions to my final copy.
Thanks again,
Bianca
Hi Bianca!
This was a really interesting post to read! I found that you broke down the concept in a really manageable way, while also keeping the reader engaged. Here are some suggestions I would make for your edits:
– I think you could rephrase your first sentence to draw in the reader a bit more, such as by combining the first two sentences. This could be something like “In light of National Diabetic Awareness month, we should take the time to acknowledge…”
– In your second paragraph, it seems as if the first and second sentence are meant to be connected. I am referring to the sentence which says “Which in turn would inhibit insulin production resulting in hyperglycemia”, with the previous one. If this was not meant to be connected, perhaps you could add a bit more to the second sentence so that it flows together.
– I agree with Carly in that you could mention what your post is about in the first paragraph. When I was reading through it, I originally thought that you may mention some people that are affected by diabetes since you do say that in the second sentence. Maybe you could change that to refer to more of the difficulties that come with diabetes.
Good luck with your edits and I can’t wait to read the final version!
Samridhi
Hi Samridhi,
Thank you for your feedback!!
I agree with your feedback about my intro. Your suggestion provides the intro with more clarity. You also pointed somethings out that I completely missed in uploading my draft copy.
I will definitely be applying your suggestions to my final copy.
Thanks again,
Bianca
HI Bianca,
Great blog post! I know a lot of people with diabetes, which is why it was cool to learn about potential treatments. I have a few suggestions:
– The first sentence of the second paragraph sounds a little odd, so maybe you can replace it with “….either in conjunction or as a substitute to…”
– Your third paragraph is very heavy with citations, so maybe you can consider inserting some of your own analysis and thinking into that section
– In your fourth paragraph, try to combine the last two sentences to help the sentences flow better
Overall, amazing job and have a good time editing!
– Yash
Hi Yash,
Thank you for your feedback and I’m happy you enjoyed reading!
Unfortunately, the citations are needed in that paragraph as a lot of the topics discussed were new to me. I will try to see where I can potentially cut some.
In addition, the feedback in regards to my outro is unattainable as topics discussed do link although they are stronger apart.
Once again thank you for the read and your feedback!
Thanks again,
Bianca
Hey Bianca,
This was an engaging post and it’s nice to see you educate your peers about diabetes especially given that it is National Diabetic awareness month. I have a couple suggestions for you as you edit:
1) The first sentence in your second paragraph reads a bit awkward. Try saying, “Ozempic, an injectable insulin-like alternative, can either replace or be used in conjunction with traditional diabetic pharmacotherapies.” – I feel that this would flow better.
2) In the first couple sentences of your third paragraph, I’m unsure if you meant for these sentences to be separate. If they are separate, I would replace “Which in turn” with “This in turn” so the readers understand that you are moving on to the next sentence.
Overall, this post was super interesting and well-written!
Happy editing,
Aman
Hi Aman,
Thank you for your feedback!!
I agree with you in the restructuring of that sentence. It makes the sentence clearer. I’m happy you enjoyed the post (it is a drug I’m super interested in learning more about).
I will definitely be applying your suggestions to my final copy.
Thanks again,
Bianca