Semaglutide is a new type of injectable prescription medication used to improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Semaglutide helps stimulate the release of insulin when blood sugar levels are high, slow digestion to prevent blood sugar spikes, and reduce appetite. Clinical studies have shown that it can lower A1c levels (a measure of average blood sugar over 3 months) by around 1-2% on average.
Getting a prescription for semaglutide involves a few key steps:
- Discuss with your doctor - The first step is to have a conversation with your primary care physician or endocrinologist about whether semaglutide is appropriate for your diabetes management plan. Not everyone with type 2 diabetes qualifies for or needs injectable GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide. Your doctor will consider factors like:
- Your current A1c and blood sugar levels
- Other medications you currently take
- Your weight (semaglutide is approved for chronic weight management also)
- Other health conditions
- Try other oral medications first - Most experts recommend trying more affordable oral type 2 diabetes medications like metformin and sulfonylureas before moving to injectable drugs like semaglutide. So you may need to show that you have already tried oral medications but still need better blood sugar control.
- Get prior authorization - Because semaglutide is newer and more expensive than many other diabetes medications, most insurance plans require something called "prior authorization" before they will cover it. This means your doctor will need to submit medical documentation showing that you meet certain criteria to demonstrate that you need semaglutide.
- Apply for co-pay assistance - Even with insurance coverage, semaglutide can be expensive, with retail prices over $1,000 per month supply. The manufacturer (Novo Nordisk) offers co-pay assistance programs that can reduce your out-of-pocket costs substantially. Your doctor's office often handles enrollment in the program.
Alternatives to semaglutide
If you are unable to get insurance coverage for semaglutide, talk to your doctor about alternative GLP-1 drugs like:
- Liraglutide (Victoza)
- Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
- Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon)
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