Restrictions put on diabetes drug Ozempic leave users feeling ‘fat shamed’

A drug that caused a buzz for its ability to help people shed kilos has now been restricted to diabetics only, causing a divide between weight loss and diabetes communites.

A severe shortage of the diabetes medication Ozempic — which is also a highly effective weight loss drug — has caused distress among those who are overweight who now feel they are being discriminated against.

Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, the makers of Ozempic, notified the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of a shortage due to an increase in consumer demand from extensive off-label prescribing for obesity management, for which Ozempic is not indicated.

The shortages led to the TGA requesting doctors and pharmacists limit prescriptions for those with type 2 diabetes only.

“The shortage is significantly affecting people using Ozempic for its approved use for type 2 diabetes,” the TGA said.

But those who have had weight loss success feel they are now deprived of the drug that can prevent diabetes.

The diabetes medicine semaglutide called Ozempic. Picture: Supplied

Michelle Barrett, who was 100kg, wanted to stop following in her father’s footsteps and developing type 2 diabetes, so she went on Ozempic earlier this year and lost 12kg in three months.

“I had tried everything, as you do, and I went to the doctor and got Ozempic to hopefully stop developing diabetes and the doctor was happy to prescribe it, and it worked really well, but I have now not been able to get it,” the 52-year-old from the Sutherland Shire said.

Michelle Barrett lost 12kg over three months but can no longer get Ozempic.

“It was really working for me but I only got it for three months and when I couldn’t get it, I was really down, and I started to put the weight back on.

“I get upset and think it is not fair, what is the alternative and I end up developing diabetes, are we trying to not stop people getting diabetes, should that be a goal?

“The weight causes so many other issues as well, mental health is the biggest thing for me and that improved so much for me. I had energy and motivation and to then not be able to get it was a real kick in the guts for me.

“My doctor has said the other option is surgery, how extreme, I’m not going to do surgery.”

Dr Caetlin Jopson is a weight loss specialist who wants Ozempic available for weight loss, not just diabetes. Picture David Clark

Brisbane-based weight loss GP Dr Caetlin Jopson said Ozempic had been a remarkable tool in preventing diseases caused by obesity.

“We use it as a tool in the prevention of diseases and healthy ageing, it’s an essential tool and it works,” Dr Jopson said

“The stories going around about how influencers are taking Ozempic can losing weight, so people are taking it when they don’t need it, well no, the real reason is there is a shortage coming out of the factory in China, but in Australia people are making judgments as to who is entitled and who is not.

“It is typical of how the health system is run where we focus on disease and we don’t focus on prevention. And the stigma and the fat shaming, you know you have diabetes and you are entitled to this medication, but you are obese and you can’t have it. It is further fat shaming.”

Overweight and obesity affects two in three Australians aged 18 and over and an estimated 8 per cent of the total disease burden in Australia is due to overweight and obesity.

The total annual cost for Australians with type 2 diabetes is up to $6 billion including healthcare costs.

“Ozempic has been great, they lose the weight and we are taking people off their blood pressure tablets and people have happy faces,” Dr Jopson said.

Dr Jopson’s patient Jill Stock lost 25kg on Ozempic and when she could no longer get it, she started putting weight back on and has started on another medication called Saxenda which involves daily injections and costs more than $300 a month.

Jill Stock before losing weight. Picture: Supplied

Jill Stock has lost 25-30kg using Ozempic. Picture: Supplied

“I was probably pre-diabetic and have diabetes in the family and I was close to 100kg. Ozempic was really good, I lost so much weight, 25 to 30kg. It is a really good appetite suppressant. I went off it a few weeks ago because I could not get it, and I started to put the weight back on and I felt here we go again,” the 44-year-old from Albany Creek said.

“Now I’m on Saxenda but I find it’s not as good, Ozempic is once a week, but I find it suppresses appetite better than Saxenda.

“I am trying to prevent diabetes but because I haven’t got it, I can’t get it.”

Gold Coast woman Sandra Goncalves has a thyroid condition that makes her put on weight. She started on Ozempic four months ago and lost 5kg, but now she cannot get it and feels discriminated against.

“I was 102kg and now I’m 94kg, but now I can’t get it,” the 55-year-old said.

“I understand if you are diabetic you need it, but if I put on more weight, I’ll become diabetic like my father.

“I want to lose weight to prevent diabetes. It’s like they are waiting for you to get diabetes and then you qualify, to me that is silly, I believe in prevention.”

Novo Nordisk has had an application for Wegovy, which is the same drug, semaglutide, but specially formulated for weight loss, before the TGA for over a year with no indication of when and if it will be approved.