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Semaglutide and Blood Tests: A Healthcare Practitioner's Perspective
As a healthcare practitioner, I can answer your question about whether semaglutide shows up in blood tests by saying:
Based on my clinical experience and current medical knowledge, semaglutide itself is not usually detected directly in standard blood tests. However, we can observe its effects on a number of health indicators:
- Blood sugar levels: I often notice changes in my patients' A1C and fasting insulin levels. Semaglutide, as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, can effectively regulate blood glucose. Access Medical Labs' semaglutide panel measures hemoglobin A1C as well as fasting insulin levels, allowing us to proactively measure the effects of semaglutide on patients' insulin and blood sugar levels.1
- Cholesterol: In my practice, I have observed that many patients have improved their cholesterol levels after using semaglutide. The Lipid Panel with Ratios is crucial in determining the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease, and can help monitor changes in cardiovascular risk factors.2
- Liver function: I pay special attention to liver enzyme levels, especially alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Studies have shown that semaglutide can significantly reduce ALT levels.
- Markers of inflammation: I usually check for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels because semaglutide has been shown to reduce this marker of inflammation.
- Thyroid function: Although semaglutide does not directly affect the thyroid gland, I closely monitor my patients' thyroid hormone levels. The semaglutide panel includes thyroid-stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) to give insight into thyroid production.3
As a physician, I would like to emphasize that while these changes may be observed in blood tests, they are not specific indicators of semaglutide use. I can't tell if a patient is on semaglutide just from a standard blood test.
I always advise my patients to tell me or another healthcare provider if they are using semaglutide. This is essential for correctly interpreting blood test results, adjusting treatment regimens, and preventing potential drug interactions.