{"id":52352,"date":"2022-06-29T09:07:02","date_gmt":"2022-06-29T13:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=52352"},"modified":"2025-10-08T13:50:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T17:50:22","slug":"is-ozempic-insulin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/is-ozempic-insulin\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Ozempic insulin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ozempic (semaglutide)<\/span><\/a> is a non-insulin medication for people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Made by Novo Nordisk, Ozempic is an injectable drug in a class of medicines known as <\/span>glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists<\/span><\/a>. Other GLP-1 agonist drugs include <\/span>Trulicity (dulaglutide)<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Victoza (liraglutide)<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Byetta (exenatide)<\/span><\/a>, and Bydureon (exenatide ER). An oral GLP-1 agonist, <\/span>Rybelsus (semaglutide)<\/span><\/a>, is also available.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Is Trulicity insulin?<\/b><\/a> | <\/b>Ozempic alternatives<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

How Ozempic works<\/span><\/h2>\n

Ozempic <\/span><\/a>is approved by the <\/span>U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<\/span><\/a> for adults with Type 2 diabetes to improve <\/span>blood glucose levels<\/span><\/a>, together with a healthy <\/span>diet<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>exercise<\/span><\/a>. Ozempic lowers blood glucose levels by stimulating insulin secretion from the pancreas. It also blocks glucagon, a hormone that causes the liver to release sugar and slows down food absorption in the stomach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Ozempic is not approved by the FDA for weight loss, many people lose weight when initiating therapy because they feel less hungry and eat less. Semaglutide, under the brand name <\/span>Wegovy<\/span><\/a>, is approved as an adjunct for weight loss along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ozempic is not a treatment for Type 1 diabetes or for <\/span>diabetic ketoacidosis<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Who can take Ozempic for weight loss?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Is Ozempic insulin?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Although Ozempic is an injectable drug, as are most insulin products, it is not the same as insulin. Manufactured <\/span>insulin products<\/span><\/a> come in short-, intermediate-, or long-acting formulas. They are used in different combinations to enhance or replace the insulin that is naturally produced by the pancreas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ozempic vs. insulin<\/span><\/h3>\n

Unlike insulins, which are used to treat both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 agonists are a class of drugs only used to manage Type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 is a hormone produced in the intestine that helps with blood sugar control. GLP-1 agonists help enhance the effects of this naturally occurring hormone by:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n