A new-ish diabetes and obesity drug that can help users shed pounds is making big waves on social media and rippling through celebrity gossip echo chambers — but its popularity is also driving a supply shortage for the people who most need the medication.
It's called semaglutide, often sold under the brand names Wegovy or Ozempic. Typically injected under the skin, the drug lowers appetite, slows digestion and increases insulin levels, causing blood sugar levels to drop. It's very useful for managing type 2 diabetes, but it also drives weight loss, with some patients in clinical trials with the drug having lost 12 percent of their weight by 28 weeks.
