Weekly Semaglutide Use Shows Promise Among Type 2 Diabetes Patients at a Polyclinic in Alahsa, Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RAs) are vital for glycemic control and weight loss. Due to lack of extensive evidence on semaglutide efficacy in Saudi population, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of once-weekly (OW) semaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study conducted in king faisal university polyclinic in 2023 which assessed patients with type 2 diabetes who started treatment with OW semaglutide alone or combined with other antidiabetic medications. Measurements taken before and six months after starting OW semaglutide which include glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body weight and other health variables.
Results: A total of 22 participants were enrolled in the study. After the intervention the HgA1c and body weight were significantly decreased (p < 0.001, P < 0.001) respectively. Additionally, there were notable decrease with statistical level in serum cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and alanine transferase (ALT) (P = 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.013, p < 0.001) whereas high density lipoprotein (HDL) and creatinine level did not show statistical difference (p = 0.057, p = 0.829).
Conclusion: This study examined the impact of OW semaglutide on individuals with type 2 diabetes, assessing HgA1c, body weight and other health metrics. Results showed significant health improvements post-intervention, suggesting key areas for further research. Future studies could explore OW semaglutide long-term effects on type 2 diabetes in the Saudi population.