Semaglutide for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2022, there are approximately 37.3 million persons, in the United States alone, with diabetes. Despite the continued advances in medical research for this chronic medical condition, the number of persons with a diagnosis of diabetes continues to escalate. In addition, another 96 million adults are believed to have prediabetes; thus, newly approved treatments for diabetes are the focus of the medical community.

In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration approved the medication semaglutide injectable (Ozempic) in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. The drug quickly gained acceptance in the medical community, as it offered positive effects on weight loss and associated chronic health risks. The drug has risen in popularity over the past few years, causing drug shortages of the medication for its intended (Type 2 diabetics) patient population. The goal of this course is to educate the nursing professional on all aspects of semaglutide (Ozempic), including clinical indications, patient education, and appropriate treatment guidelines.