Weight loss tips, tricks, and tools will always be a booming industry. Medications such as Ozempic, Trulicity, and Mounjaro had originally been approved for type 2 diabetes patients. Over time, though, word spread that patients were losing weight, which even caught the attention of the Hollywood crowd. These drugs were used “off label” for non-diabetic patients who wanted to lose weight, “off label,” meaning the FDA only approved their use as a diabetic medication.
Other medications have finally been approved as weight-loss-only drugs: Saxenda, Wegovy, and Zepbound. What is different between these drugs? Nothing, mostly…except the weight loss drugs are a higher dose than the diabetes version. Diabetes patients need to be cautious with these medications, especially if they are taking more than one diabetic drug.
What Is a GLP-1?
GLP-1 is a glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone. The GLP-1 hormone is located in the intestines and is released when you eat. This hormone helps:
- Trigger insulin to be released from the beta cells in the pancreas.
- Inhibit glucose from being produced from the liver, which helps keep blood glucose lower.
- Keep healthier insulin sensitivity levels.
- Slow gastric emptying, acid secretion, and gut motility, all of which help to reduce post-meal blood glucose levels.
- Reduce your appetite, as it activates a neurotransmitter, a messenger between the gut and brain, to let you know you are no longer hungry and feel satisfied.
GLP-1 medications are synthetic, typically an injectable taken daily or weekly. It is released in response to food intake by mimicking how your GLP-1 hormone acts in your intestines and the messages sent to and from your brain.
What Does It Cost?
For most people, there is an out-of-pocket cost. These types of medications can cost from $10,400 to nearly $17,000 per month. Some patients may stay on the medication for one to three years.
There are also some potential side effects, from stomach pain and nausea to vomiting and kidney or gallbladder problems, to name just a few.
Does It Work for Everyone?
The long-term results are a bit surprising:
- Ten percent of users seem to maintain weight loss after two or three years.
- Fifteen percent of those who tried one of the medications did not respond after one year.
- At one year, weight loss is about eight percent; at three years, it is down to about six percent.
- Thirty percent of those who used one of these medications stopped because they did not see the weight loss they expected—this includes people who suffered from the side effects.
- An altered gut microbiome can affect the efficacy.
- On average, patients regain two-thirds of their weight back, gaining it at a faster rate.
There are multiple reasons for gaining weight back after stopping these medications, including:
- The medication dose is much higher than a naturally produced GLP-1 hormone.
- Medication masks the gut-brain dysregulation, so food cravings and appetite return.
- Regained weight is usually more fat and less muscle.
- Not adhering to lifestyle changes!
Luckily, There Is a Natural Approach
- Test your digestive tract—this is important for absorbing vitamins and minerals.
- Learn the foods you are intolerant to and those that are therapeutic for you—we call this “food that loves you back.”
- Metal toxins can impede your weight loss progress—those should be checked.
- Be committed to making lifestyle changes where necessary. This is a must—coaching keeps you motivated and moving forward.
- Food additive testing lets us select the supplements specifically for you.
- Specific supplements are selected that focus on stimulating (not mimicking) your body’s own production of the “un-hunger” hormone.
Perhaps the best news? This testing only takes half an inch of hair! Benefits reported by users include reduced overall food cravings, weight loss, and maintenance, and enhanced natural GLP-1 production for diabetes and non-diabetes patients alike.
Visit MyCuraVida.com to book a free consultation.
Denise A. Pancyrz, CHN, DSS™ is a Diabetes Reversal and Holistic Lifestyle Coach, speaker, and best-selling author of The Virgin Diabetic, Reverse the Effects of Type 2 Diabetes, Reduce Medication, and Improve Your Glucose Levels, available on Amazon. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Denise was prescribed four daily insulin shots along with oral medication for diabetes and heart disease. This protocol helped to bring her glucose levels down; however, she did not feel as healthy and vibrant as expected. After changing her protocol by learning to rest and preserve her pancreas, she was able to eliminate all medication and insulin, regaining her energy.
Visit: ReverseMyDiabetes.net for coaching and training information, to book a free consultation, or to set up a speaking event. Contact Denise by calling 888.848.1763, or email her at: [email protected].