Looking for fellow MFP’s who take Ozempic for Type 2 Diabetes!

I'm a maybe, possibly, not sure if I can help, as I'm also type 2. Was asked by my doc if I wanted to go on Ozempic but I thought to see if I can my A1C down by exercise and diet first. I'm not on Metformin. Started at 7.5 a year ago and now I'm at 6.2. I'd love to hear your thoughts on what's going on for you now, because if I ever rebound just because my body just doesn't like me, I might have to go on that.

I'm prediabetic and self funding Mounjaro. Having new bloods done later this week so I'll see whether it's made a difference.

I'm taking it. I had great initial success. 352 was my start in June and I'm 314 now. However, I've been 314 for a couple of months. I got sick in December (not Ozempic related) and I sort of just stopped with the injections for a couple of weeks after my pharmacy had trouble stocking them. I am now trying, but I seem to be stalling. I'm hoping I don't have to increase. I'm at 1 and I don't want to go higher. I fully recognize I have a weird addiction to food. If it is in front of me, I eat it whether I want it or not. Ozempic helps with that - but it doesn't seem to as much lately.

I am also Type 2 diabetic.

Has anyone been seeing all the cases coming out regarding Ozempic and Osteoporosis among other things? Even in young people they’re being diagnosed with a myriad of issues in a year or less. Please let the community know if you’re having issues. They’re trying and doing a pretty good job of covering it up and keeping it quiet.

ddsb1111 wrote: »

Has anyone been seeing all the cases coming out regarding Ozempic and Osteoporosis among other things? Even in young people they’re being diagnosed with a myriad of issues in a year or less. Please let the community know if you’re having issues. They’re trying and doing a pretty good job of covering it up and keeping it quiet.

The only actual data I could find was from the FDA and from the data of around 29,000 people taking Ozempic they found 33 people with osteoporosis with none, 0, under 50 yrs old which works out to around 0.11%. Basically all the people with osteoporosis where elderly. Most in their late 50 and up and without actually knowing the data of each individual, which would be in the full data somewhere, are more than likely to be in their 70, and 80's.

Obesity and diabetes which is common in this particular demographic that are taking Ozempic, who are overweight/obese and many with diabetes are more suspectable to osteoporosis without Ozempic and when factoring in age, which by itself, regardless of health, are more apt to have weaker bones from improper nutrition, like low calcium and vit D which is quite common in the elderly, and lack of exercise.

Anyway to me, it seems to be an association and suggest that cause and effect needs to be more rigorously tested, but of course that's just a guess on my part. Basically if a person is old, is obese and has diabetes I suspect the likelihood they have weaker bones is in the realm of reality. Plus you have to ask the question, why are there no people under 50 with osteoporosis in that data. It very well could be that taking Ozempic does contribute to people that are elderly, but to what extent is the question and those RCT's that are required and can figure this out are very expensive, and I don't think Novo Nordisk is excited to find a reason not to take their medication

https://ehealthme.com/ds/ozempic/osteoporosis/

I'm a formerly obese woman who has full-bore osteoporosis. While I'm quite sure my osteoporosis was unrelated to either obesity of weight loss, it's a subject about which I've read a lot - research studies and mainstream medical/nutrition sources - while planning my own nutritional direction. But I'm not a medical professional, just an interested amateur.

In my understanding, high body weight is in some research looking like it's protective against osteoporosis, because carrying the extra weight is effectively a strength exercise (with huge downsides for health in other ways, of course). In other research, obesity appears to be correlated with bone weakness, especially later in life. Diabetes increases osteoporosis risk. Rapid weight loss increases osteoporosis risk. Genetics also matter quite a lot, as does exercise history - yes, obese people can be athletically active - and nutrition.

Osteoporosis's causes are multifactorial, and the factors interact in complex ways. Some research may be highlighting correlations of things that aren't directly cause and effect, but are effects of some common cause, possibly a cause not analyzed as a possible confounder in the particular study.

I don't know whether GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic independently increase osteoporosis risk. I think the research on that specific question is pretty preliminary at this point, to the extent any research exists.

That said, I'm inclined to think @sollyn23l2 has a point: Some people who are taking these drugs are losing weight very fast. We know that's increasing osteoporosis risk. Realistically, the population that wants or needs these drugs probably also includes a higher proportion of people with a history of limited exercise, sub-ideal nutrition, diabetes or pre-diabetes, and other known factors that increase osteoporosis risk.

Personally, I think it's smart for any woman to take steps to minimize osteoporosis risks, and the younger the better. No, I didn't do that well myself; and I also have chemotherapy and anti-estrogen drugs in the mix, also risk factors for osteoporosis. Just because I was dumb, I'm not going to tell other women they should be dumb, too, because "that's life" or "it was about life balance". No. It was dumb.

If someone is taking GLP-1 drugs, I'd be recommending they get good nutrition, eat adequate calories to keep loss rate sensible, and exercise - especially strength exercise. (The definition of "sensible" loss rate varies depending on the person's weight and health.) Those things are what I'd recommend to anyone losing weight.

If people taking the drugs inherently have higher osteoporosis risk even with all other factors equal - which I don't think we know yet - the things a person can actually DO about that risk are the same at this point, other than that if some can lose the weight without the drugs, that's an option to consider.

But losing the weight and keeping it off is also very likely important for reducing risk of not just osteoporosis, but other dangerous health conditions. Some people seem to be finding these drugs a key tool for doing weight loss.

Any of these strategies involve managing risk, and balancing relative risks. I agree with encouraging people using the drugs to report results and discuss concerns, but - especially as a non-user - I'm not going to catastrophize about the drugs' side effects and tell them not to take them. That's a very personal decision.