Multidirectional effects of semaglutide

The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and the need to individualise treatment tailored to each patient’s current clinical status and comorbidities pose a significant challenge in developing optimal therapeutic strategies. Contemporary management focuses not only on effective glycaemic control and weight reduction – given that approximately 80-90% of individuals with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese – but also on reducing cardiovascular risk. In this context, the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide plays a particularly important role, having been known primarily for its favourable effects on metabolic control and weight loss. Recent studies, however, highlight a much broader therapeutic potential, encompassing both the prevention and treatment of multiple diabetes-related complications. This article presents the findings of analyses evaluating once-weekly semaglutide 1 mg and its effects on cognitive disorders, peripheral artery disease, periodontitis, and cardio-renal-metabolic syndrome, as well as a comparison of its efficacy with that of another GLP-1 receptor agonist, dulaglutide.