Semaglutide is a relatively new type of diabetes medication, which was approved for use in Singapore in 2021.

This new treatment option has been shown to be effective for helping to control diabetes. It can cause other beneficial effects as well, such as weight loss, reduced cardiac risk, and renal protection. However, with any medication, it’s important to consider what the side effects may be. What side effects can semaglutide cause? How can you manage these?

Key Takeaways

• Mild side effects, such as digestive issues and headaches, are relatively common with semaglutide.

• In most cases, the side effects of semaglutide will resolve as your body gets used to the new medication.

• Serious side effects of semaglutide are rare, although they can occur.

How does semaglutide work?

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1. This hormone is produced in the gut in response to a meal. It stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin and blocks your liver from releasing sugar, which prevents your fasting blood sugar from rising too high. GLP-1 also slows down the emptying of your stomach and helps you to feel full, and reduces cravings and emotional eating, reducing calorie intake and blood sugar increase after meals.

Semaglutide is effective at helping to control blood sugar. In people with type 2 diabetes, it has been shown to decrease the risk of serious complications, including heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. This medication can be used on its own, along with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to further improve diabetes control. It can also be used along with other diabetes medications, like metformin, if needed.

What are the common side effects of semaglutide?

Although semaglutide can be very beneficial in treating diabetes, it can also have some side effects. Some of the more common ones include:

• Nausea and vomiting

• Abdominal pain and bloating

• Indigestion or acid reflux (heartburn)

• Constipation or diarrhea

• Weakness during exercise

• Headache

Although they can be unpleasant, these effects are generally not dangerous and can be reduced through small adjustments to our lifestyle. 

How can the side effects of semaglutide be managed?

In most cases, the side effects of semaglutide will resolve on their own within a few weeks, as your body gets used to the new medication. Although the initial period of taking the medication can be uncomfortable for some people, it will often get better over time.

There are also a number of ways to manage the side effects of semaglutide.

• Take smaller meals, and avoid oily or fatty foods. Foods that are high in fat take a long time to digest. Because semaglutide slows down your digestion, eating large or high-fat meals can lead to symptoms like bloating and indigestion.

• Ensure that you take plenty of fluids. With a slower digestive process, your gut pulls more water out of your food. This can lead to constipation. Making sure that you’re getting enough fluids will help with this issue.

• Take meals at least 3 to 4 hours before lying down. When you lie down while the stomach is full, this can cause reflux and indigestion. Ensuring that you give your system enough time to digest before you lie down will help to avoid these issues.

• If you experience weakness during exercise, take a snack before any intense exercise lasting longer than 30 minutes. Choose a snack with simple carbs, such as a piece of fruit or crackers. This is helpful because semaglutide reduces release of glucose from your liver, which can lead to your muscles running out of energy once the circulating glucose is used up. The carbs in your snack will provide your body with the energy that it needs to fuel your activity.

If the semaglutide side effects are bothering you a lot, you should discuss this with your doctor. They may be able to help you find ways to help manage these issues.

Can semaglutide cause weight loss?

Weight loss is a common side effect of semaglutide. By slowing down the emptying of the stomach, it helps to keep people feeling full longer, which leads them to eat less. Studies have shown that semaglutide can reduce appetite and food cravings, leading to weight loss as well. Losing excess weight can be helpful in managing diabetes, and can also have other beneficial health effects.

That being said, please note that semaglutide is currently approved only for treating diabetes in Singapore. It is not approved specifically as a weight loss medication.

Are there any serious side effects of semaglutide?

Semaglutide is generally considered to be a safe medication, but serious side effects can occasionally occur. Some of these include:

• Hypoglycemia (a blood sugar level that’s too low)

• Allergic reactions

• Worsening of diabetic retinopathy (eye disease)

• Acute kidney injury

• Possible increased risk of pancreatic or thyroid cancer

• Interactions with other medications

Because of the results of animal studies, there has been some concern that semaglutide and other similar diabetes drugs might increase the risk of certain cancers, including thyroid cancer. So far, research hasn’t confirmed that there’s an increased risk in humans, although we can’t yet rule out this possibility. Patients should be aware of this issue, but it’s important to consider the bigger picture. For a person with diabetes, heart disease and kidney failure are much more likely causes of death than these rare cancers.

Low blood sugar is rare when semaglutide is used alone, but can occur when it’s used along with other diabetes drugs. It’s important to keep a close eye on your blood sugar after you start taking any new diabetes medication, to ensure that it doesn’t go too low. 

Whenever you start a new diabetes medication, diabetic eye disease can sometimes get worse in the short term, particularly if your blood sugar control wasn’t particularly good beforehand. This is something to watch out for, but the long-term effects of improved blood sugar control are likely to be worth the small increase in short-term eye disease risk. 

Kidney damage from semaglutide is rare, but some cases have been reported. Your doctor will tell you what to watch out for, in case you experience this rare but serious side effect.

Semaglutide affects the digestive system, including slowing down the emptying of the stomach. This can affect how the body absorbs any other medications that you take. It’s important to ensure that your doctor is aware of everything that you’re taking, including any supplements or traditional medicines, because of this possible interaction.

Are you considering semaglutide for managing your diabetes?

Semaglutide is only available by prescription. If you’re considering semaglutide as part of your plan for diabetes control, then you’ll need to visit a doctor. Because this is a newer treatment option, not all clinics in Singapore currently offer semaglutide. If you want to consider this option, then you’ll need to make sure that you choose a clinic that offers it.

Semaglutide is effective, but it works best when used along with healthy lifestyle changes, like diet and exercise.