Image courtesy of Advanced Diabetes Supply.
Weight loss can be a complicated goal to achieve, which is why using certain supplements can really help out. After months or even years of struggling to lose weight, you might come to the conclusion that you need some help, and thankfully, there is a lot of help available out there for you. Some of this help comes in the form of GLP-1 medications, and some of it comes from other supplements and medications that work well when combined with GLP-1 medications.
If you’ve already tried so much, but still can’t seem to lose enough weight, GLP-1 just might turn out to be your next solution. This might just be one of the most effective types of weight loss drugs on the market, and there are several different name brands to choose from. Trying GLP-1 for weight loss might just turn your weight issues around for good, and the only way to know if that will turn out to be true is to try it for yourself.
What Is GLP-1?
GLP-1 is a receptor antagonist medication that lowers blood pressure and promotes weight loss. GLP-1 agonists include several medications that were originally created to treat diabetes. These drugs manage blood sugar levels, and also have the effect of lowering the appetite. These medications are most often injectable, and injected into fatty tissue that is right under the skin.
GLP stands for glucagon-like-peptide. Medications made with it can be known by several different names. They can be known as Glucagon-like-peptide-1 agonists, GLP-1 receptor agonists, GLP-1 analogs, and even Incretin mimetics. These medications are quite new. The FDA first approved the first GLP-1 antagonist in 2005, and they aren’t meant to target weight loss alone. These medications work best to target weight loss when used with other treatments. These treatments can include supplements as well as changes to your diet and exercise routine.
What Are the Side Effects?
GLP-1 drugs are known for primarily causing gastrolineal issues. These issues can include constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. They can be mild or they can be more severe, but it is likely that they won’t last the whole time you are taking GLP-1 drugs. Gastrolienal symptoms are common with these drugs, but they most often come on in the beginning stages of use, and die down over time. The more that your body is used to the GLP-1 agonists, the less pronounced your symptoms will be. The next most problematic time for experiencing these symptoms is when you are upping your dose.
Now How Do You Counteract These Side Effects?
Sometimes when you take a necessary drug, you need to take something else with it to counteract some of its side effects. Since GLP-1 is most likely to cause issues in the gut as a side effect, it can be a good idea to take something mild that can counteract those symptoms. You don’t want to overwhelm your gut with something heavy when it is irritated, but there are mild supplements you can take that can help your gut feel better even when GLP-1 agonists might cause some problems.
Dr. Emil’s total gut complex is made to be an all in one gut supplement. It is a prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic all in one, and contains many beneficial ingredients that serve the gut. Every ingredient in this supplement does something to reduce inflammation, which can be one of the primary culprits when it comes to gut discomfort. GLP-1 medications can cause the gut to feel inflamed, leading to all kinds of physical issues, and this total gut complex will help fight it. Here are its overall benefits:
- Shiitake mushroom extract. Shiitake mushroom extract reduces inflammation, improves energy levels, and supports the immune system.
- Lion’s mane mushroom extract. Lion’s mane mushrooms help prevent tissue and intestinal damage, and also reduce inflammation.
- Reishi mushroom extract. When combined with a high level of healthy fat foods, reishi mushroom extract and reduce gut inflammation and reduce the buildup of harmful bacteria in the bloodstream.
What Are Some GLP-1 Antagonists on the Market?
GLP-1 antagonists are growing in popularity amongst people working to lose weight, and it comes in several different brand names. Some of these brand names are quite popular, and some are lesser known, but one of them could be the one that works for you. Here are the GLP-1 Antagonists that you can buy:
- Dulaglutide, Brand name: Trulicity
- Exenatide, Brand name: Byetta
- Exenatide extended-release, Brand name: Bydureon
- Liraglutide, Brand name: Victoza
- Lixisenatide, Brand name: Adlyxin
- Semaglutide injection, Brand name: Ozempic
- Semaglutide tablets, Brand name: Rybelsus
These medications were all invented to treat type 2 diabetes, and also manage to have significant weight loss effects. Each of them comes in a different injectable form. Some of them come in single use injection containers, and some come with injectables that you can use more than once. For the most part, these injections will need to be used about once a week, but that can vary based on the brand.
How Does GLP-1 Promote Weight Loss?
GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone in the body. It is made by the small intestine for several different functions. GLP-1 triggers the release of insulin from the pancreas. This insulin then lowers the amount of glucose in your blood, preventing the development of diabetes. Another thing the GLP-1 hormone does is slow down digestion. Slowing down digestion slows down the release of glucose into the bloodstream, which is something that can help prevent diabetes. It also blocks the secretion of glucagon and increases feelings of fullness after eating. The longer you feel full after eating, the less you will eat throughout the day.
That is how GLP-1 works in the body, and GLP-1 agonist medications work in a similar way. They mimic the natural hormone in the body, and perform the functions that were lost when the body stopped producing the original hormone. An agonist is a substance that is made to attach to cell receptors and do the same thing that the hormone it is replicating would have done. And the more of the agonist you take, the higher the effects. So if you want to experience more weight loss, a higher dose might be in order. The higher the dose you take, the less you will be tempted to eat each day because of the appetite lowering effects.
Your appetite is often one of your biggest barriers towards weight loss, and by controlling the appetite, GLP-1 controls your weight. When most people try to take on weight loss diets, they struggle with feeling hungry and eating a whole lot more calories than they intend to. GLP-1 will keep that from happening by lowering your appetite. It can lower your appetite to the point where you have to look out for the opposite problem. You will need to make sure to get an adequate amount of calories throughout the day if you don’t get hungry nearly as much as you normally would.
How To Get GLP-1
Whether you are getting it online or in person, GLP-1 drugs are drugs you will need a prescription to access. There is normally one of a few criteria you need to fit in in order to be prescribed one of these drugs, and a doctor will check you out and decide if you are a good candidate. Since this is a drug with big effects on the body, you can’t simply decide you want it and get it right away. Most people who want to lose a bit of weight won’t get access to GLP-1, but if you fall into one of three categories, you are very likely to get a prescription from your doctor.
People With Type II Diabetes
If you have type II diabetes, you are a top candidate for GLP-1 drugs. Because GLP-1 increases the production of insulin in people who have lost the function, providing it artificially provides immense help for people with diabetes. If you have type II diabetes, your body can’t easily regulate your insulin and your blood sugar levels, and GLP-1 antagonists will take over and do it for you. Even if you want to be prescribed these drugs for weight loss purposes, you can get them prescribed for diabetes and still experience the weight loss that tends to come with the drug. Your doctor can also help you adopt a regime that controls your diabetes and helps you lose weight.
People With a BMI over 30
Another reason that you can be prescribed GLP-1 agonists by your doctor is if you need to lose weight for health reasons. Anyone with a BMI over 30 is considered to be at risk because of their weight, and therefore can easily qualify for GLP-1 drugs. People with a BMI over 30 are considered to be extremely overweight, and that weight can come with many dangerous medical issues. There don’t need to be medical issues already present to get GLP-1 at a BMI of 30. Only the weight needs to be present. The rapid weight loss that comes from GLP-1 can prevent an onslaught of unpleasant illnesses, and that makes it very worth it for people with an over 30 BMI.
People with a BMI over 27 with weight related illnesses
The last criteria you can fit into to be prescribed Ozempic is to have a BMI of 27 and have an illness that is caused by your weight. While a 27 BMI is considered overweight, it isn’t considered overweight enough to be dangerous like a BMI of 30 is. So unless your 27 BMI comes with a weight related health issue, it won’t be easy to get a GLP-1 prescription. And if you’re wondering what illnesses you need to have to qualify for a GLP-1 prescription at a 27 BMI, they are high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and sleep apnea. If you suffer from one or more of those illnesses, you can get the prescription you need even if you are not up to a 30 BMI.
Is GLP-1 Covered By Insurance?
There are several brands of GLP-1 on the market, and each of them are covered by different types of insurance. Each can also be covered for different reasons, so aside from what you need it for, the perfect brand of GLP-1 for you can have something to do with the insurance you have. Some of these drugs are only approved for diabetes, and some are approved for weight loss purposes. Some are approved for both, but only if you have a private insurance plan. Medicare doesn’t usually cover weight loss drugs, but you can check directly with your provider to make sure.
GLP-1 is a substance the body needs for optimal functioning, and when it malfunctions, a class of drugs can turn things around for you. Even if your GLP-1 levels are normal, GLP-1 drugs can cause significant weight loss within short periods of time. If that is something that you need in your life, you should call your doctor and go for it. If you are the right candidate for any of the many GLP-1 drugs on the market, you might just end up leaving your weight problems behind you for good.
