Personally I am against taking any "new" drug and the GLP-1 bunch which includes Ozempic, Mounjaro, Rybelsus et al are "new" by any standard

My reluctance is simply "nobody knows what the long term effects are" and particularly when you are talking about Diabetics we would tend to start using them when we still have 20 or more years left (potentially) and a 2 or 3 year Phase Trial just doesn't tell us enough about what happens after 5 or 10 years on the drug

And in fact there is now a couple of Black Box Warnings that have been added to this class of drugs. The first noting the increased risk of Thyroid Cancer and more recently the news was flooded with warning about them causing Gastroparesis in some number of users

So yes, there are RISKS that have now been identified after a "few years of use" and there "might be" more, we just don't know

That does have to be considered before anyone starts a drug, particularly one without a track record (metformin has been around for over 80 years, Sulfonylurea's for nearly 100 and Insulin saw it's 100th birthday a few years back - we KNOW every potential side effect even if you started them at Birth)

BUT

You can't simply get hung up on the potential Risks - you have to remember WHY they are being considered for YOU

Carrying extra weight WILL KILL YOU - it makes your diabetes more unmanageable - that is a fact and uncontrolled diabetes Kills You 100% of the time

Extra Weight also leaves elevated for Heart Attack, Stroke, Certain Cancers, Arthritis, Gallbladder problems and the list goes on

All things that will KILL YOU usually slowly and painfully

And that is what WE need to keep in mind

These can't be discussed in isolation

So if you can't deal with a condition "yourself" the Meds, even with all their potential side effects, will "most likely" extend not only your life, but your quality of life

So if you really Don't Need them, don't consider them. But if you need the help, take them

YOUR LIFE might depend on them - don't Kill Yourself because you are worried about a few side effects that will SAVE YOUR LIFE

Sometimes you have to go with the best undesirable option but for myself, before I used them for Weight Loss, at least this early on, I would want to know that I really did everything I could do "myself" First...

I have been taking Mounjaro for around 6+ months. I had a very difficult time losing weight before going on it. I did lose a little weight before using Mounjaro but once I started using it, my weight loss is a little easier. It slows digestion down, so I do get a little constipated at times. My weight loss is slow which is what my doctor wants.

My blood glucose has improved. My A1C was 7.1. I got it down to 6.8 before using Mounjaro. Now it is 5.7.

I personally wouldn't take one.I believe it's worth investigating,Becky and if deemed suitable go ahead.I've seen so many stories where the drugs haven't helped to trust them(but then I distrust all meds)

My friend took Ozempic for several months but had to stop due to unbearable side affects and she immediately gained all the weight back she had lost and then some. My doctor thinks its a bad idea for me to take any of them to the high rish of Gastroparesis which I have already experienced in the past.

I was on Victoza, a GLP-1 for about 8 years and my doc switched me over to Ozempic about 2 month's a go. I have not had any noticeable side effects to-date. I also am on a sulfonylurea(glipizide) and metformin)

I am aware of the risk of medullar thyroid cancer(although occurrence is quite rare) and gastroparesis(which I never experienced).

I would not take the GLP-1's for weight loss but feel that I don't have much choice in avoiding them for the diabetes, unless I go on insulin, which can have its own set of problems.

So off to the gym with me to help me stay skinny (I'm at 162 pounds.)