Is Ozempic Insulin? Understanding the Difference and How Each Works

If you’ve been prescribed Ozempic or are researching weight loss options, you may be wondering whether Ozempic is a form of insulin. The confusion is understandable: both are injectable medications used for diabetes, both affect blood sugar, and both are administered with pen devices that look similar. But despite these surface similarities, Ozempic and insulin are fundamentally different medications that work in entirely different ways.

The clear answer: No, Ozempic is not insulin. Ozempic contains semaglutide, which is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It works by mimicking a gut hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that directly moves glucose from the bloodstream into cells. These are distinct substances with different mechanisms, different effects, and different roles in treatment.

Understanding this distinction matters for several reasons. It affects how you take the medication, what side effects to expect, whether you’re at risk for low blood sugar, and what the medication can and cannot do. It also helps clarify why Ozempic produces weight loss while insulin often causes weight gain.

This guide covers:

• What Ozempic (semaglutide) actually is
• What insulin is and how it works
• Key differences between these medications
• Why people confuse them
• How each affects blood sugar
• How each affects body weight
• When each is prescribed
• Whether you might need both
• Common questions about Ozempic and insulin

Key Takeaways

• Ozempic is not insulin. It’s a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a completely different class of medication
• Different mechanisms: Insulin directly lowers blood sugar by moving glucose into cells; Ozempic works through gut hormones to improve the body’s own insulin response and reduce appetite
• Different weight effects: Insulin often causes weight gain; Ozempic produces significant weight loss
• Different hypoglycemia risk: Insulin can cause dangerous low blood sugar; Ozempic rarely does when used alone
• Different dosing: Insulin doses are often adjusted daily based on blood sugar; Ozempic is a fixed weekly dose
• Different roles: Insulin is required for Type 1 diabetes; Ozempic is used for Type 2 diabetes and obesity
• Both are injectable but work through completely different pathways
• Some people need both: Patients with Type 2 diabetes may use Ozempic and insulin together
• Ozempic may reduce insulin needs by improving the body’s own insulin function

What Ozempic Actually Is

Understanding what Ozempic is helps clarify what it isn’t.

The Active Ingredient: Semaglutide

Ozempic contains semaglutide, a synthetic molecule that mimics a natural hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1):

GLP-1 is a gut hormone:

• Produced in your intestines after eating
• Signals to your brain that you’re full
• Tells your pancreas to release insulin (when blood sugar is elevated)
• Slows stomach emptying
• Reduces appetite between meals

Semaglutide is a modified version:

• Designed to last much longer than natural GLP-1
• Natural GLP-1 lasts minutes; semaglutide lasts about a week
• Activates the same receptors as natural GLP-1
• Produces the same effects, but more powerfully and sustainably

Drug Classification

Ozempic belongs to a class called GLP-1 receptor agonists:

What “receptor agonist” means:

• “Agonist” means it activates a receptor
• “GLP-1 receptor” is the target
• Ozempic binds to and activates GLP-1 receptors throughout the body

Other medications in this class:

• Wegovy (semaglutide at higher doses)
• Trulicity (dulaglutide)
• Victoza/Saxenda (liraglutide)
• Mounjaro/Zepbound (tirzepatide, which also activates GIP receptors)

None of these are insulin. They’re all GLP-1 medications that work through entirely different pathways.

What Ozempic Does

When you take Ozempic:

In your brain:

• Reduces appetite
• Decreases food cravings
• Enhances feelings of fullness

In your stomach:

• Slows emptying of food
• Prolongs fullness after meals
• Reduces how much you want to eat

In your pancreas:

• Enhances insulin release when blood sugar is high
• Reduces glucagon release (a hormone that raises blood sugar)
• Improves overall blood sugar regulation

Net effects:

• Significant weight loss (average 15% of body weight)
• Improved blood sugar control
• Reduced appetite
• Cardiovascular protection

What Insulin Actually Is

Insulin is fundamentally different from Ozempic.

Insulin Is a Hormone

Insulin is a hormone naturally produced by beta cells in the pancreas:

Normal function:

• Released when blood sugar rises (after eating)
• Acts as a “key” that unlocks cells to let glucose enter
• Allows cells to use glucose for energy
• Signals the liver to store excess glucose
• Essential for life

In Type 1 diabetes:

• The immune system destroys beta cells
• The body cannot produce insulin
• Insulin must be replaced by injection to survive

In Type 2 diabetes:

• The body still produces insulin
• But cells become resistant to it (insulin resistance)
• Over time, the pancreas may produce less insulin
• External insulin may eventually be needed

Types of Insulin Medications

Insulin medications are actual insulin, identical or nearly identical to what the human body produces:

Rapid-acting insulin:

• Starts working in 15-30 minutes
• Used at mealtimes
• Examples: Humalog, Novolog, Apidra

Short-acting insulin:

• Starts working in 30-60 minutes
• Used at mealtimes
• Example: Regular insulin

Intermediate-acting insulin:

• Works over 12-18 hours
• Used for baseline coverage
• Example: NPH insulin

Long-acting insulin:

• Works over 24+ hours
• Provides steady background insulin
• Examples: Lantus, Levemir, Basaglar, Tresiba

Premixed insulin:

• Combinations of rapid/short and intermediate
• Provides both mealtime and background coverage

What Insulin Does

When you inject insulin:

Direct glucose lowering:

• Binds to insulin receptors on cells
• Opens glucose channels
• Glucose moves from blood into cells
• Blood sugar drops

Metabolic effects:

• Promotes glucose storage in liver and muscles
• Promotes fat storage
• Inhibits fat breakdown
• Supports protein synthesis

Critical difference from Ozempic: Insulin directly and immediately lowers blood sugar regardless of what your body is doing. Ozempic enhances your body’s own response to elevated blood sugar but doesn’t directly move glucose into cells.

Key Differences Between Ozempic and Insulin

Understanding the differences clarifies why these medications have such different effects.

Mechanism of Action

Aspect	Ozempic (Semaglutide)	Insulin
What it is	GLP-1 receptor agonist	The hormone insulin
How it works	Activates GLP-1 receptors to improve body’s own response	Directly moves glucose into cells
Effect on appetite	Reduces appetite significantly	No direct appetite effect
Effect on body’s insulin	Enhances natural insulin release	Replaces or supplements body’s insulin
Primary target	Multiple (brain, pancreas, stomach)	Insulin receptors on cells

Blood Sugar Effects

Aspect	Ozempic	Insulin
How it lowers glucose	Indirectly, by improving insulin response	Directly, by moving glucose into cells
Speed of effect	Gradual over days to weeks	Rapid (minutes to hours)
Glucose-dependent	Yes (works mainly when glucose elevated)	No (works regardless of glucose level)
Hypoglycemia risk (alone)	Very low	Significant
HbA1c reduction	1.0-1.8%	1.0-2.5%+ (dose-dependent)

Weight Effects

Aspect	Ozempic	Insulin
Typical weight change	Loss (10-15%)	Gain (2-6 kg typical)
Mechanism	Appetite suppression, slowed gastric emptying	Fat storage promotion, appetite increase
Long-term trend	Continued loss/maintenance with treatment	Continued gain common

Dosing and Administration

Aspect	Ozempic	Insulin
Frequency	Once weekly	Varies: once daily to multiple times daily
Dose adjustment	Fixed titration schedule	Often adjusted based on blood sugar readings
Timing with meals	Not required	Often required for mealtime insulin
Blood sugar monitoring	Not required for dosing	Often required for dosing decisions

Risk Profiles

Risk	Ozempic	Insulin
Hypoglycemia	Low (alone)	Significant
Weight gain	No (causes loss)	Yes
Nausea/GI effects	Common	Rare
Injection site reactions	Rare	Can occur
Pancreatitis	Rare risk	Not associated

Why People Confuse Ozempic With Insulin

The confusion is understandable given several similarities.

Both Are Injectable

Surface similarity:

• Both administered via injection
• Both use pen devices
• Both are subcutaneous (under the skin)
• Injection technique is similar

Key difference:

• Ozempic: Once weekly
• Insulin: Often daily or multiple times daily
• The substances being injected are completely different

Both Are Used for Diabetes

Shared indication:

• Both can be prescribed for Type 2 diabetes
• Both lower blood sugar
• Both may be recommended by the same providers

Key differences:

• Ozempic: Type 2 diabetes only (and weight management)
• Insulin: Required for Type 1, sometimes needed for Type 2
• Different roles in diabetes treatment

Both Come in Pen Devices

Similar appearance:

• Both use multi-dose pen injectors
• Both have dial mechanisms
• Both use small needles

Different devices:

• Ozempic pen: Weekly dosing, doses in mg
• Insulin pens: More frequent dosing, doses in units
• Not interchangeable

Medical Terminology Can Be Confusing

Terms that might confuse:

• “Injectable diabetes medication” applies to both
• “Blood sugar medication” applies to both
• Healthcare providers may discuss both in same conversation

Clarifying terms:

• Ozempic is a “GLP-1” or “incretin”
• Insulin is “insulin”
• Asking your provider for clarification is always appropriate

Media Coverage Doesn’t Always Distinguish

In news and social media:

• Both medications get significant coverage
• Distinctions aren’t always clearly made
• “Diabetes shot” could refer to either
• Weight loss discussion often doesn’t specify mechanism

How Each Affects Blood Sugar

The blood sugar effects of these medications differ fundamentally.

Ozempic’s Blood Sugar Effects

Mechanism:

1. GLP-1 receptors in pancreas detect activation
2. Beta cells become more responsive to glucose
3. When blood sugar rises, more insulin is released
4. Effect is “glucose-dependent” (only when needed)
5. Also reduces glucagon (which raises blood sugar)

Characteristics:

• Works with your body’s existing system
• Enhances rather than replaces natural function
• Effect builds over weeks
• Doesn’t cause blood sugar drops when glucose is normal
• Produces gradual, sustained improvement

Typical results:

• HbA1c reduction: 1.0-1.8%
• Fasting glucose improvement: 20-40 mg/dL
• Post-meal glucose improvement: Significant

Insulin’s Blood Sugar Effects

Mechanism:

1. Injected insulin enters bloodstream
2. Binds to insulin receptors on cells
3. Directly opens glucose channels
4. Glucose moves from blood into cells
5. Blood sugar drops proportional to insulin dose

Characteristics:

• Acts directly, not through body’s systems
• Works regardless of what your pancreas is doing
• Effect is rapid (minutes to hours)
• Can lower blood sugar even when it’s already normal
• Dose must match food intake and activity

Typical results:

• HbA1c reduction: Variable, 1.0-2.5%+ depending on regimen
• Can achieve any glucose target if dosed correctly
• Powerful but requires careful management

Hypoglycemia Risk: A Critical Difference

With Ozempic:

• Hypoglycemia risk is very low when used alone
• The glucose-dependent mechanism provides a safety margin
• If blood sugar is already normal, Ozempic doesn’t push it lower
• Risk increases only when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas

With insulin:

• Hypoglycemia is a significant and ongoing risk
• Insulin works regardless of current blood sugar level
• Taking too much insulin causes dangerous low blood sugar
• Requires careful monitoring and dose adjustment
• Can be life-threatening if severe

This difference in hypoglycemia risk is one of the most important distinctions between these medications.

How Each Affects Body Weight

Weight effects are dramatically different between Ozempic and insulin.

Ozempic Causes Weight Loss

Mechanisms:

• Reduces appetite through brain effects
• Slows gastric emptying (feel full longer)
• Decreases food cravings
• May reduce reward value of eating
• Creates caloric deficit naturally

Typical results:

• Average: 10-15% body weight loss
• Some patients: 20%+ loss
• Loss occurs over 12-18 months
• Maintained with continued treatment

Why this matters for diabetes:

• Weight loss improves insulin sensitivity
• Reduces medication needs
• Improves cardiovascular risk factors
• Addresses root cause of Type 2 diabetes

Insulin Often Causes Weight Gain

Mechanisms:

• Promotes fat storage
• Can increase appetite
• Prevents glucose from being excreted in urine (glucose saved as energy)
• May lead to overeating to prevent low blood sugar

Typical results:

• Average: 2-6 kg (4-13 lbs) gain
• Can be more with intensive insulin therapy
• Weight gain can worsen insulin resistance
• Creates a challenging cycle

Why this happens:

• Insulin is an anabolic hormone (builds tissue)
• Better glucose control means fewer calories lost in urine
• Fear of hypoglycemia may drive defensive eating

Clinical Implications of Weight Differences

For Type 2 diabetes patients:

Ozempic advantage:

• Weight loss addresses underlying insulin resistance
• May reduce need for other medications
• Improves multiple health markers
• Aligns treatment with weight management goals

Insulin consideration:

• Weight gain can worsen the condition
• May require higher and higher doses
• Important to combine with lifestyle efforts
• Still necessary for some patients despite weight effects

When Each Medication Is Used

Ozempic and insulin serve different roles in treatment.

When Ozempic Is Prescribed

For Type 2 diabetes:

• Often a first-line or second-line medication
• When metformin alone isn’t sufficient
• When weight loss is also a goal
• When cardiovascular protection is desired
• Before insulin is needed

For weight management (as Wegovy):

• BMI ≥30, or
• BMI ≥27 with weight-related health condition
• Regardless of diabetes status

Not appropriate for:

• Type 1 diabetes (doesn’t replace needed insulin)
• When immediate, powerful glucose control is needed
• When contraindications exist (MTC, MEN2, pregnancy)

When Insulin Is Prescribed

For Type 1 diabetes:

• Always required
• No exceptions
• Survival depends on insulin replacement

For Type 2 diabetes:

• When oral medications and GLP-1s are insufficient
• When HbA1c remains significantly elevated
• During illness or surgery
• During pregnancy
• When beta cell function has declined significantly

For gestational diabetes:

• When diet isn’t sufficient
• Insulin is safe during pregnancy
• Ozempic is not approved for pregnancy

The Progression in Type 2 Diabetes

A typical treatment progression might be:

1. Lifestyle changes (diet, exercise)
2. Metformin (first-line medication)
3. Add GLP-1 agonist like Ozempic (second-line, especially with weight/CV concerns)
4. Add or switch to insulin (when other treatments insufficient)

Ozempic and insulin are often at different stages of this progression, though they can be used together.

Can You Take Both Ozempic and Insulin?

Many patients with Type 2 diabetes use both medications.

When Combination Makes Sense

Scenario 1: Adding Ozempic to insulin

• Patient on insulin for diabetes control
• Adding Ozempic for additional glucose lowering
• Also benefits from weight loss effects
• Often allows insulin dose reduction

Scenario 2: Adding insulin to Ozempic

• Patient on Ozempic but not reaching glucose targets
• Adding basal insulin for additional control
• Maintains Ozempic’s appetite and weight benefits
• Common in progressive Type 2 diabetes

Benefits of Combination

Complementary effects:

• Ozempic improves insulin sensitivity
• Insulin provides direct glucose control
• Different mechanisms work together
• May achieve better control than either alone

Weight mitigation:

• Ozempic’s weight loss offsets insulin’s weight gain
• Net effect may be weight neutral or loss
• Addresses a major concern with insulin therapy

Potential insulin dose reduction:

• Adding Ozempic often allows 20-30% insulin reduction
• Reduces hypoglycemia risk
• Reduces insulin side effects
• Improves quality of life

Important Considerations

Hypoglycemia risk increases:

• Ozempic alone: Low hypoglycemia risk
• Ozempic + insulin: Higher risk
• Insulin doses often need reduction when adding Ozempic
• Close monitoring required during transition

Provider coordination:

• Don’t adjust insulin without medical guidance
• Regular monitoring essential
• Dose changes should be supervised

What This Looks Like Practically

A patient might use:

• Weekly Ozempic injection
• Daily basal insulin injection (like Lantus)
• Sometimes mealtime insulin (like Humalog)

The Ozempic helps control appetite and improve insulin sensitivity, while insulin provides the direct glucose control needed.

Addressing Common Misconceptions

Several misconceptions persist about Ozempic and insulin.

Misconception: “Ozempic Is Just a New Type of Insulin”

Reality:

• Ozempic is not insulin in any form
• Different molecule, different mechanism, different effects
• They’re as different as blood pressure medication and cholesterol medication
• Both used for diabetes doesn’t make them the same thing

Misconception: “If I Take Ozempic, I Won’t Need Insulin”

Reality:

• Ozempic may delay or reduce the need for insulin
• But some patients with Type 2 diabetes eventually need insulin
• Type 1 diabetics always need insulin
• Ozempic can’t replace insulin when it’s truly needed

Misconception: “Ozempic Works Like Insulin to Lower Blood Sugar”

Reality:

• Insulin directly moves glucose into cells
• Ozempic enhances your body’s own insulin response
• Different mechanisms entirely
• Ozempic doesn’t work if your pancreas can’t produce any insulin

Misconception: “Taking Ozempic Means My Diabetes Is as Serious as Someone on Insulin”

Reality:

• Ozempic is often used earlier in Type 2 diabetes
• Insulin is typically used later or when necessary
• Being on Ozempic doesn’t indicate disease severity
• Many people on Ozempic have well-controlled diabetes

Misconception: “Ozempic and Insulin Have the Same Side Effects”

Reality:

• Ozempic: Nausea, GI effects, potential weight loss
• Insulin: Hypoglycemia, weight gain, injection site reactions
• Very different side effect profiles
• Can’t assume one based on experience with the other

Which Medication Is Right for You?

The choice depends on your specific situation.

Ozempic May Be Right If:

Your situation:

• Type 2 diabetes needing better control
• Also wanting to lose weight
• Cardiovascular disease or risk factors
• Currently not achieving goals with other medications
• Want to avoid or delay insulin

Your priorities:

• Weight loss alongside glucose control
• Once-weekly dosing convenience
• Lower hypoglycemia risk
• Cardiovascular protection

Insulin May Be Right If:

Your situation:

• Type 1 diabetes (required)
• Type 2 diabetes not controlled with other medications
• Very high blood sugar needing immediate control
• Pregnancy with diabetes
• Beta cell function significantly declined

Your priorities:

• Maximum glucose control flexibility
• Proven long-term safety record
• Ability to fine-tune doses
• Necessary when other options insufficient

Many Patients Benefit From Both

Combined therapy:

• Better control than either alone
• Ozempic’s weight effects offset insulin’s weight gain
• May allow lower insulin doses
• Addresses multiple aspects of Type 2 diabetes

Talk to Your Healthcare Provider

The right choice requires considering:

• Your type of diabetes
• Current blood sugar control
• Other health conditions
• Weight goals
• Lifestyle factors
• Insurance coverage
• Personal preferences

Your provider can help determine the optimal approach for your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ozempic a form of insulin?

No, Ozempic is not insulin in any form. Ozempic contains semaglutide, which is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a completely different class of medication. Insulin is a hormone that directly moves glucose from blood into cells. Semaglutide mimics a gut hormone (GLP-1) that affects appetite and enhances your body’s own insulin response. They work through entirely different mechanisms, have different effects on weight (Ozempic causes loss, insulin often causes gain), and have different risk profiles (insulin carries significant hypoglycemia risk, Ozempic does not when used alone).

Why do people think Ozempic is insulin?

The confusion arises from several superficial similarities. Both are injectable medications administered with pen devices. Both are used to treat diabetes. Both affect blood sugar. Both are prescribed by the same healthcare providers. However, these similarities are surface-level. The medications are fundamentally different in their mechanisms, effects on weight, hypoglycemia risk, and dosing patterns. Ozempic works by enhancing your body’s response to food and blood sugar; insulin directly replaces or supplements the hormone your body needs.

Does Ozempic replace insulin for diabetics?

It depends on the type of diabetes and severity. For Type 1 diabetics, Ozempic cannot replace insulin. These patients have no insulin production and require insulin injections to survive. For Type 2 diabetics, Ozempic may delay or reduce the need for insulin by improving blood sugar control through other mechanisms. Some patients can achieve good control with Ozempic without needing insulin. However, as Type 2 diabetes progresses, some patients eventually need insulin regardless of other medications they’re taking. Ozempic and insulin serve different roles.

Can you take Ozempic and insulin together?

Yes, many patients with Type 2 diabetes take both medications. This combination can be very effective: insulin provides direct glucose control, while Ozempic adds additional glucose-lowering effects plus appetite suppression and weight loss, which can offset insulin’s tendency to cause weight gain. When adding Ozempic to insulin therapy, insulin doses often need to be reduced to prevent low blood sugar. This adjustment should always be done under healthcare provider supervision. The combination addresses diabetes from multiple angles.

Which lowers blood sugar more, Ozempic or insulin?

Insulin generally has more powerful and direct glucose-lowering ability because it works immediately and can be dosed precisely to need. Insulin can achieve virtually any blood sugar target if dosed correctly. Ozempic typically produces HbA1c reductions of 1.0-1.8%, while insulin can produce larger reductions depending on the regimen. However, insulin’s power comes with greater hypoglycemia risk. Ozempic provides more moderate but safer glucose lowering. The “better” option depends on how much glucose lowering is needed and what other factors (weight, hypoglycemia risk) matter for the patient.

Why does Ozempic cause weight loss but insulin causes weight gain?

The weight effects stem from their different mechanisms. Ozempic activates GLP-1 receptors in the brain that reduce appetite, slow stomach emptying, and decrease cravings, leading to reduced food intake and weight loss. Insulin, conversely, is an anabolic hormone that promotes fat storage and can increase appetite. Additionally, when insulin improves glucose control, fewer calories are lost through urine, effectively increasing caloric retention. Some patients on insulin also eat more to prevent or treat low blood sugar episodes, further contributing to weight gain.

Does Ozempic make your body produce more insulin?

Ozempic enhances insulin secretion, but only when blood sugar is elevated. It doesn’t increase baseline insulin production. When you eat and blood sugar rises, Ozempic amplifies the signal telling your pancreas to release insulin. This “glucose-dependent” mechanism means insulin release increases appropriately after meals but doesn’t increase when blood sugar is already normal. This is why Ozempic rarely causes low blood sugar when used alone. It improves your body’s insulin response rather than adding insulin regardless of need.

Is Ozempic safer than insulin?

Each medication has different safety considerations. Ozempic has lower hypoglycemia risk when used alone, which is a significant safety advantage since severe hypoglycemia can be dangerous or even fatal. However, Ozempic has GI side effects (nausea, vomiting) that insulin doesn’t cause, and rare risks including pancreatitis and theoretical thyroid concerns. Insulin has decades of safety data and is essential for survival in Type 1 diabetes. For Type 2 diabetics without insulin requirements, Ozempic’s lower hypoglycemia risk and weight benefits may make it “safer” in practical terms, but this depends on the individual situation.

If Ozempic helps my blood sugar, why might I still need insulin later?

Type 2 diabetes is often progressive. Over years, the beta cells in your pancreas that produce insulin may become less functional (beta cell decline). Ozempic works partly by enhancing your pancreas’s ability to respond to glucose with insulin release. If your beta cells decline significantly, there may not be enough native insulin to enhance, regardless of how much Ozempic helps. At that point, replacing insulin directly through injection becomes necessary. This doesn’t mean Ozempic failed; it means the disease progressed. Many patients use both medications together at this stage.

Do I need to monitor my blood sugar on Ozempic like I would on insulin?

Generally, blood sugar monitoring requirements are less intensive with Ozempic than with insulin. Ozempic is a fixed weekly dose that doesn’t require daily adjustment based on glucose readings. Insulin, especially mealtime insulin, often requires checking blood sugar to determine the correct dose. However, if you’re on Ozempic combined with insulin or sulfonylureas, monitoring becomes more important due to increased hypoglycemia risk. Your healthcare provider will advise on monitoring frequency based on your specific regimen and diabetes control goals.

Can someone with Type 1 diabetes use Ozempic?

Ozempic is not approved for Type 1 diabetes and cannot replace insulin for these patients. People with Type 1 diabetes have an autoimmune condition that destroyed their insulin-producing beta cells, meaning they cannot produce insulin and must receive it through injection to survive. Ozempic works partly by enhancing insulin release from existing beta cells, which doesn’t help if those cells are gone. Some research is exploring whether GLP-1 medications might have adjunctive benefits in Type 1 diabetes (for weight or cardiovascular reasons), but this is not standard practice, and insulin remains absolutely required.

The Bottom Line

Ozempic is not insulin. These are fundamentally different medications that work through entirely different mechanisms. Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics a gut hormone to reduce appetite, enhance your body’s own insulin response, and slow gastric emptying. Insulin is the actual hormone that directly moves glucose from blood into cells.

Understanding this distinction matters for practical reasons: different side effects, different hypoglycemia risks, different effects on weight, and different roles in diabetes treatment. Ozempic typically causes weight loss while insulin often causes weight gain. Ozempic rarely causes low blood sugar when used alone; insulin carries significant hypoglycemia risk.

Both medications have important places in diabetes treatment, and many patients benefit from using both together. But they are not interchangeable, and assuming they work the same way can lead to misunderstanding about what to expect from treatment.

Ready to explore semaglutide treatment? TrimRx offers consultations with licensed providers who can evaluate your eligibility and prescribe compounded semaglutide at $199/month for qualifying patients.