What is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is FDA-approved for Type 2 diabetes management and for weight loss. It mimics the natural GLP-1 hormone your body produces, helping you release insulin at the right time while slowing the release of glucagon. This creates smoother blood sugar control throughout the day. With Semaglutide, many people digest food more slowly and feel full longer, which helps them eat smaller portions without feeling deprived.
Benefits of Semaglutide
- Feel full sooner
- Reduce cravings
- Keep blood sugar steadier throughout the day
- Support long-term weight loss
How Does Semaglutide Work?
Semaglutide activates the GLP-1 pathway, which plays a major role in hunger signals, fullness cues, and insulin release. When this pathway becomes more active, your stomach empties more slowly, and your brain receives clearer fullness signals. You feel satisfied with smaller portions, and your blood sugar moves in a smoother pattern after meals.
This process helps reshape your eating habits in a natural way. You eat less because your hunger decreases rather than because you force restriction. Over time, your metabolism finds a steadier rhythm, which supports weight loss that feels consistent and easier to maintain.
Are there Side Effects?
Most people tolerate Semaglutide well, especially when they start with a low dose, so the body can adjust at a steady pace. Beginning slowly helps lower the chance of common reactions such as constipation, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.
These effects usually fade as your dose increases gradually and your system adapts to the medication. Dr. Garcia follows your progress closely, especially if you notice digestive changes or shifts in how you feel day to day. You will always know what is expected and when it is time to reach out.
What To Expect
During Your Consultation
During your consultation, Dr. Garcia reviews your medical history, current symptoms, eating patterns, hormone patterns, adrenal function, and how your body clears hormone metabolites. This helps her understand why weight loss has been difficult and whether Semaglutide is the right fit for you. She then creates a personalized treatment plan based on your goals and the way your metabolism functions.
If found to be a candidate for Semaglutide, she explains how dosing works, how to administer the medication yourself, how to store the medication, and what you can expect during the first few weeks as your body adjusts.
During the Injection
Dr. Garcia or a team member will show you how to inject yourself with the medication. Most patients inject themselves in the abdomen or upper thigh, and you can return to your day immediately with no downtime.
After Your Appointment
You’ll take your injection once a week at home. Dr. Garcia checks in with you every one to two months to review your progress, adjust your dose if needed, and make sure the medication is working the way it should. These visits help you stay on track and keep your plan moving in the right direction.
If hormone or adrenal findings reveal anything that slows your progress, she incorporates support for those areas alongside your Semaglutide plan.
Who is a Candidate for Semaglutide?
- Your body mass index is 27 or higher with a weight-related condition
- Your body mass index is 30 or higher, even without additional conditions
- You manage high blood pressure
- You have high cholesterol
- You have Type 2 diabetes