Semaglutide Monitoring Panel
The Semaglutide Monitoring Panel consists of 9 blood tests that can help you and your healthcare provider monitor your health while taking semaglutide or another GLP-1 agonist. Even if you are not taking a GLP-1 agonist, this panel can provide valuable information about your blood sugar and insulin levels, kidney and liver function, thyroid health, blood count, cholesterol, and vitamin B12.
GLP-1 agonists, including semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy®), are medications that are primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes. However, some have also been approved for weight management in individuals with obesity. When taking a GLP-1 agonist for weight loss, monitoring your blood work is essential for several reasons:
- Staying safe: Like all medications, they can sometimes cause side effects. This is why routine lab monitoring is important. By doing regular blood tests, you and your healthcare provider can detect potential adverse reactions.
- Monitoring organ function: Many medications are processed by your liver and kidneys, so it is important to monitor your liver and kidney function when taking certain medications.
- Checking your nutrients: If you are taking additional supplements while using a GLP-1 agonist, it is important to keep track of your levels.
- Checking blood sugar: GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide are also used to control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Even if you are taking one for weight loss, it can still affect your blood sugar.
The Semaglutide Monitoring Panel provides a great starting point for routine lab monitoring while taking semaglutide or another GLP-1 agonist. You should work with your healthcare provider to determine the frequency of lab testing, and to see if any additional testing is needed.