BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Diabetes drug Ozempic has become increasingly popular for weight loss, causing a nationwide shortage. However, now it’s being used in a study at Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge.
The drug is a weekly injectable used to treat diabetes. It can result in weight loss, which is one reason it has gone viral on social media.
Woman’s Hospital Director of Scientific Research Elizabeth Sutton said the study they’re conducting could have an impact on local postpartum women and their families.
“We have a passion for postpartum women’s health,” said Sutton. “When moms get healthier, baby gets healthier, kids get healthier, our partners get healthier.”
Sutton also said if pregnant women get diagnosed with gestational diabetes, they are later at risk for Type 2 diabetes.
“Mom’s postpartum health, not just with Ozempic, but with any intervention has a ripple effect across the community for wellness,” said Sutton.
But what is the goal of the study?
“If a woman has had a pregnancy with gestational diabetes and now she has prediabetes, we can give her this medicine for six months to see if we can help her improve her health so that she can have better health and reduce the risk for this disease long term,” said Sutton.
Researchers are about a quarter of the way into the study and they are searching for another 70 postpartum participants. Sutton said participants will get paid.
The ongoing study is expected to conclude in a little over 12 months.
Click here to learn more about the study at Woman’s Hospital.
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