Semiglutide for insulin resistance

Cathysbd said:

Hi I was prescribed Semiglutide for insulin resistance. Am Type1 since age 10 in 1973. I need to lose 50lbs but am not taking the Ozempic for weight loss.
I’m also on Metformin (about 20 years ), I’m on a Tandem T-Slim hybrid closed loop pump.
My latest hba1c was 58.
Is anyone else on Ozempic for insulin resistance and does it help keep your blood sugars lower?
I take 0.5 once a week injection. I know I need to eat healthier and move more, I’ve always struggled with my weight (I’m 60). I can’t decide whether to carry on with the Semiglutide or not and my Consultant says it’s up to me. xxxx

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Hi Cathy - I'm not T1, but just wanted to enquire what is it about Semaglutide that makes you want to stop it? Are you having side-effects from it?

In terms of eating healthier, some on weight loss journeys utilise a reduced carb diet, which often works well and can help with hunger pangs, because one is satiated for longer than can be the case with a carb based diet.

For myself, I have certainly found that exercise is great for all sorts of things, but as a powerful tool in weightloss, it is overshadowed by a long way by what we eat and drink.

If you are not used to exercising, it could be helpful to adopt a simple approach of parking further from the supermarket, or if you are a bus user, getting off a stop sooner, just to up the step count a bit. For myself, routinely now, I have a bit of a pact with myself that if I am running an errand in the village where we live, I do not get in the car, unless the rain is joined up, and when I go into our nearest town, I tend to part at the top of the town and always walk to the bottom of the main street, whether I need to or now. Those little things all add up, and for me, actually make me want to do more.

I really do wish you well. Change is never easy, but somethings it makes all manner of sense.

Melgar said:

I’ve been a long distance runner for much of my life. Whilst I agree with most of what you said about exercise , I respectfully disagree with you on this point, I quote “but as a powerful tool in weightloss [sic], it is overshadowed by a long way by what we eat and drink” . It depends on the type of exercise you do. A combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercise, and duration of time will, in my view, have the weight tumbling off you. Anaerobic exercise is very demanding on your bodily systems, the level of intensity with this exercise type, which utilizes glucose for energy, without the use of oxygen, will in my opinion reduce weight very quickly. Not only that, but the increasing muscle mass will in itself demand more energy simply because those muscles require it even when not engaging in exercise. Simply put you are burning more calories just by sitting doing nothing. Now I would never suggest one engage in this type of exercise who is not a t a certain level of fitness, but I 100% agree with you on your suggestion around walking. Some exercise is better than no exercise. Exercise or lack of it, is a factor in D2 development.
I would say that anaerobic exercise will, in the period you are exercising, increase your blood sugars substantially during that level of intensity, but reduce blood sugars for a period of time after.

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You neglected to take into account the beginning of my sentence which is "For myself....." At no time did I say everyone should agree.

Cathysbd said:

i don’t know really, I tolerate the dose I’m on but wonder if it’s doing my body any good? I’ve just started doing/using a weighted hula hoop for the last 20 days! I should focus on reducing carbs a bit. Thank you for your lovely reply xxx

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I don’t take Semaglutide, and it seems to be very effective for some folks for weight loss, but you say that isn’t why you were prescribed it. One of the probable impacts of Semaglutides is appetite suppression, which can result in weight loss. i don’t know how long you have been on it, but have you lost weight? Would (further) weight loss leave you clinically underweight?

Only you can decide whether you continue with the medication or not, but I’m guessing if you are prescribed both Metformin and Semaglutide your insulin resistance is quite significant. I’m also guessing you have had all the warning to be vigilant of hypos, bearing in mind between improved insulin sensitivity and wringing any possible remaining natural insulin you may have more hypos.

Cathysbd said:

I’ve been on it on and off for about 2 years. Initially I lost 10 lbs. It does decrease your appetite. I’m about 40-50 lbs overweight. Just wondering if anyone else is taking it for insulin resistance? xxxx

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In the reading I have done, most are taking this as a helper with their diabetes (mainly T2s) and for weightloss. That said insulin resistance and carrying a bit of spare weight are often, but not exclusively, closely linked.

It's a pity there don't appear to be any other T1s, on here, taking a Semaglutide at the moment, but hopefully someone will come along.
One thing I will add is that, on a personal note (and bearing in mind I am T2), after my diagnosis I made changes to my diet, which resulted in weightloss. Like you, I wasn't striving for weightloss, but it happened.

With all of that, as well as my HbA1c and other health markers improving, my insulin (in my case, my own naturally produced insulin) sensitivity improved enormously.

If you have been taking your Semaglutide for a couple of years, have you found your insulin requirements changing at all?

Sometimes it's really hard to decide the best way forwards for ourselves with what sometimes feel like "bonus" or "just another thing" drugs.

Cathysbd said:

Thank you. I have found my insulin doses are a little reduced with taking Ozempic/Semiglutide. I believe I need to make more effort at eating healthier and exercising. I guess i’m feeling jaded and fed up and looking for things to blame other than myself. I need a change of attitude or focus but it’s hard to focus on one thing when there’s so many.
I’m lucky being type1 for 51 years, with minimal complications . Diabetes can certainly wear you out mentally when piled on top of all other life stuff! No idea if my extra weight has caused the insulin resistance or the insulin resistance has caused my extra weight! I am about 40-50 lbs overweight.
How do others cope with it all? Diabetes, other ailments, home life, family, work etc etc?
I’m going to carry on taking my 0.5 dose of Semiglutide once a week and make tiny steps towards reducing my hba1c. It has gone down from 62 to 58 recently.
Having replies on here and reading others posts is a help i think. It is supportive and very much needed. Thank you xxx

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The insulin resistance and weight gain are sort of a circular thing.

Personally, and I keep stressing that, I find my insulin resistance is at its best when I am trim. If I gain weight, my insulin resistance doesn't rocket, but it tries to show its ugly head.

I'm absolutely not suggesting you have to starve yourself to a skinny minnie, but it is likely your life could be a bit easier if you are carrying less.
Life gets complicated, and for sure, once we achieve a few miles on life's clock, other conditions tend to muscle in. I have thyroid issues which don't help me, but I have been fortunate that weight gain has never been a massive challenge there. I was just perpetually chilled to the bone until I got the meds to a good place.

Well done on starting to move around a bit more, and reducing your A1c. I love hoola hoops and always need to have a go when I see them anywhere - including in our local Lidl a couple of weeks ago. (Thankfully the shop was quiet. ) Maybe just start adding in a few extra bits, that don't feel like exercising.
As well as the walking I mentioned earlier, I try to use stairs, rather than lifts, although I'm no slave to that one, but at home, unless I've been asleep, I try to use the loo upstairs when I'm down, or vice versa. It all adds up, and helps to encourage your muscles to be active.

Everyone who visits this forum arrived when that had something they wanted to know, or needed other support with something. Folks sometimes move on and others stick around, so the great thing about here is there is often someone around with lived experiences like your own. For me, that alone helps ease the burden I might be feeling.

Keep on going. You are moving in the right direction.

I'm type 1 and been in ozempic for about 2 years. I have started my own threads on this some time back so I won't waffle on here.
It's been amazing for my diabetes but the side effects are tough. It also have increased my symptoms of M.E. Which means I've even more wiped out and unable to do lots of exercise.
Moving onto mounjaro in a month. Excited about the change as I also have a very inactive gut and has been like this for over 30 years. Looking forward to finally getting some helpful help

Not sure if you could use "Fiasp" insulin with your pump but this a good product for insulin resistance, for me I wish it had been available years ago.