Who does not love a little shortcut in life? We all do, especially in the midst of today’s relentless hustle and bustle. And while we chase the ultimate trophy of life, our health has quietly slipped into the back seat. The sedentary lifestyle has wrapped itself tightly around us. With the prevalence of obesity increasing, one shortcut that many have come to rely on is the weight loss drug. It has become something of a best friend for those who have struggled for years to shed the extra pounds.
For people whose fast-paced lives made it nearly impossible to focus on fitness, this drug seems like a saviour. With easy access and the right guidance, many now hail it as a life-changing solution. However, one crucial thing that skips the mind of many is blood screening before even deciding on administering these fat jabs.
For the unversed, Semaglutide, sold under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic, and Tirzepatide under Mounjaro, are antidiabetic medications used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and anti-obesity medications used for long-term weight management. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, these jabs have taken the weight loss world by storm. But as much as it is celebrated for trimming waistlines, dealing with potential side effects could be harmful and, in some cases, even fatal. This is where blood screening comes into play.
Rachael Joy, a nurse and chief clinical officer at SheMed, has even warned that the safest way for people to use these jabs is through mandatory blood screening.
Wondering how a blood test before taking weight loss injections helps?
Well, it is a way to find out any underlying health issues that need to be managed before a patient starts the weight loss programme or to figure out if the treatment is entirely unsuitable. Blood screening can test for liver function, thyroid problems, uncontrolled pre-diabetes and high levels of harmful fats called triglycerides in the blood.
Joy told the Mail: "If someone has really high triglycerides, they may be at higher risk of pancreatitis."
What happens when you have high triglycerides?
As Rachael Joy rightly points out, if these blood fats are sky-high, you are not just dealing with a weight problem; you are welcoming pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas that can land you in the ER faster than you can say "semaglutide". Think of triglycerides like grease clogging your body’s internal plumbing. The trouble adds up when you throw a powerful drug like one of these weight loss drugs, which can severely impact your metabolism and digestion. So a blood test acts like an inspection.
Ms Joy continued telling the Mail: "People who have uncontrolled diabetes are also at an increased risk of becoming severely dehydrated, which can be really serious.
Mixing these meds with poorly managed blood sugar levels can cause severe dehydration. Why?
These drugs delay stomach emptying and reduce appetite, which can drastically lower fluid intake. Pair that with already high blood sugar pulling water from your cells, and your body starts waving the SOS flag. We are talking dizziness, confusion, and kidney trouble. So before you hop on the injection bandwagon, ask yourself: is your diabetes under control, or are you risking your health?
A quick blood test can tell you whether you are good to go or if you need to pump the brakes.
