Wegovy: Weight Loss Benefits vs. Kidney Health Risks

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Does Wegovy, also known as semaglutide or Ozempic, help or harm your kidneys? According to some “google doctors” in my comment sections, the answer is a resounding YES! But, hold on—it’s not that simple. If you take a GLP-1 based medication like Wegovy and drastically reduce your water intake or experience vomiting and diarrhea, you could become dehydrated, which might harm your kidneys. But it’s not the Wegovy itself causing harm; it’s these rare circumstances that might lead to kidney issues.

On the flip side, exciting new research suggests Wegovy could actually protect your kidneys! 

A large, randomized controlled trial, the FLOW Trial, involved 3,500 people with Type 2 Diabetes and CKD. Participants were split into two groups: one received semaglutide, and the other got a placebo, with everyone on the drug for about 3.4 years. The trial aimed to see if semaglutide could reduce the risk of kidney failure, significant kidney function decline, and death from kidney or heart disease.

The results? Semaglutide reduced the risk of these combined outcomes by 24%. Specifically, it lowered the risk of a major reduction in kidney function by 27% and the risk of dying from heart disease by 29%. It also reduced the risk of dying from any cause by 20% and slowed the yearly decline in kidney function by about 1.16ml/min. These findings suggest that semaglutide has significant protective effects on the kidneys.

Regarding side effects, nothing new emerged from this trial. The standard GLP-1 side effects like nausea, heartburn, and constipation were observed. The trial spanned three years, adding to the long-term safety profile of semaglutide.

How does semaglutide protect the kidneys? It’s a combination of reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis within the kidneys, managing blood sugar levels, and modest weight loss.

Overall, this study was well-designed. Despite the involvement of Novo Nordisk, the trial sponsor, independent consultants verified the data. The results are a win for semaglutide and GLP-1 based therapies, showing benefits in reducing death risk and protecting kidney function in people with Type 2 Diabetes and CKD.

Remember, small tweaks lead to massive peaks. Thanks for watching and I’ll catch you next week! 

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Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button for more insightful content, and consider joining our YouTube Members Membership for exclusive benefits and monthly live sessions. 

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Watch my previous videos to learn how to fight obesity and about the best medicine for weight loss: 
▪️ Watch This Before Taking Mounjaro  
▪️ From Ozempic to Mounjaro 
▪️ Muscle Loss with Ozempic, Wegovy & Mounjaro 
▪️ Managing Nausea from Ozempic, Wegovy and Trulicity!  
▪️ Ozempic: Stomach Paralysis Update  
▪️ How to Switch from Ozempic (or Wegovy) to Mounjaro  
▪️ Ozempic Paralyzed My Stomach 
▪️ How to Inject Mounjaro: step-by-step tutorial

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Live in Alberta? Come see me at my Pharmacist-led Obesity Clinic at Apothecare Pharmacy – http://apothecarerx.ca 

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Products I recommend to support your weight-loss journey: 
▪️ Managing Constipation 
▪️ Managing Diarrhea 
▪️ Managing Heartburn 
▪️ Internalized Weight Bias 
▪️ Protein Bars
▪️ Scales and More 
▪️ Supplements 
▪️ Activity Trackers  
▪️ My favorite Books 

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Dr. Dan

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https://healthevolved.co/wegovy-kidney-health 

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