What You Need to Know About Liraglutide: Uses and Health Benefits
With the different medical discoveries that have been developed over the years relative to the solutions that certain conditions require, they have been deemed to be of huge help for treatments and health improvements. This also led to the discovery of liraglutide, an anti-diabetic medication used to treat diabetes, lower the risk of heart disease and blood pressure, and even help one to lose weight.
Liraglutide, being similar to a natural hormone in your body called incretin, works by stimulating the release of a hormone known as insulin. This holds the responsibility of bringing down the levels of blood sugar your liver makes. And the more insulin that the pancreas emits, the lower the chance that blood sugars will increase. Though this is the case, liraglutide is not completely a substitute for insulin, particularly if your body requires insulin treatment.
An Effective Medicinal Treatment
This makes this medicinal treatment an effective one, backed up by studies that have proven liraglutide to be offering health benefits. Moreover, it also has the ability to decrease the chances of heart attack and stroke, for people who are at risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
This medication can be used either alone or with other prescriptions, along with a proper diet and exercise routine, as a means of controlling blood sugar levels in both adults and children who are 10 years of age and older. Especially those who have type 2 diabetes. With high blood sugar controlled can be able to help prevent other serious conditions such as kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and even sexual function problems.
With liraglutide working with other medications, as well as making lifestyle changes and checking your blood sugar regularly is certainly an effective way to manage your diabetes, treat other related conditions, and improve your health in general. It is particularly helpful in decreasing your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, and other diabetes-related complications. But then, having to talk about this with a doctor will definitely recommend the right treatment procedures for you. And knowing how beneficial liraglutide is, it will certainly be one of the choices that they might suggest for you to take.
Treats Diabetes
Liraglutide is known for its power to treat diabetes. It can significantly improve and control blood sugar levels, with a low risk of hypoglycemia — a condition involving abnormally low blood sugar. It is an ideal treatment for both adults and children, particularly those with type 2 diabetes mellitus. They are required to take daily doses of liraglutide, to produce beneficial effects for controlling blood sugar levels.
Furthermore, liraglutide reduces the amount of a substance produced by your pancreas called glucagon. It causes your liver to produce more sugar. Thus, by having to reduce the amount of glucagon in your body, blood sugar levels can also be reduced. Additionally, studies have shown that liraglutide works on one’s stomach as well, as a means of letting the food one consumes pass more slowly through it. Meaning to say, the sugar from your meals will take longer to get into your blood.
Of course, people with diabetes certainly need treatment to control the amount of sugar in their blood. As blood sugar levels are controlled, the risk of complications in the long run will be reduced as well. Some people have the power to control the sugar in their blood by just changing their lifestyle. Particularly by making changes to the food they eat. However, for some, their bodies require medicines, along with changes in diet as well. With this, liraglutide is one of those that are prescribed for them.
Lowers Risk of Heart Disease and Blood Pressure
Apart from treating diabetes, liraglutide also has the ability to lower the risk of heart disease and blood pressure. It has been found to possess cardioprotective effects, which lowers the risk of heart problems. Particularly in diabetic patients, given that they impose the risk of cardiovascular-related conditions as well. Whether they have or have no history of heart failure, a liraglutide treatment has been deemed to be beneficial, still.
Moreover, according to the results of a study conducted as a means of proving liraglutide’s effectiveness, patients with type 2 diabetes treated with this medication also experienced a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure. Particularly if they have lower baseline continuous glucose monitoring, or CGM, values and higher diastolic blood pressure.
Helps Lose Weight
Taking liraglutide can also be of help in losing weight in general, helping the body to improve its composition. Particularly for patients with heart failure, liraglutide treatment was shown to be effective as a weight-loss agent. Liraglutide is commonly used as a resort for certain overweight people. Such as those who are obese, or have weight-related medical issues.
This is certainly effective, especially when combined with a healthy diet and mild exercise. The use of liraglutide has been proven to produce significant weight reduction, and even an effect with their waist circumference. This type of treatment is used with a doctor-approved exercise, behavior change, and reduced-calorie diet program, to prove its effectiveness.
Losing weight in general, and keeping it off can be able to lessen the many health risks that come with obesity. The health risk mentioned includes heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and a shorter life.
Key Takeaway
Given the effectiveness of liraglutide as a medical treatment for certain medical issues, it has been widely used as a solution by most patients. It is actually given as an injection under the surface of the skin. Then, it uses an injection device called a pre-filled pen. It is used as an addition to other medications too. Its health benefits have the power to treat diabetes, lower the risk of heart disease and blood pressure. Just let it work together with the right lifestyle changes consistently. Then you will definitely get the most benefit from it.
