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Yes, Liraglutide may be used as an add on therapy for weight loss. It may be used along with reduced calorie intake and exercise program for management of weight of obese or overweight patients. However, Liraglutide is approved for the management of patients with type 2 diabetes.

It is advised to take Liraglutide once daily at any time of the day, but preferably at the same time each day. Liraglutide comes as a solution (liquid) in a prefilled dosing pen to inject subcutaneously (under the skin) in your stomach, thigh, or upper arm.

Liraglutide is used along with diet and exercise program to control blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is also used to prevent heart attack, stroke or death in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and heart and blood vessel disease.

You should be aware that Liraglutide may cause serious side effects such as thyroid tumors. Therefore, this medicine is not recommended in patients with personal or family history of thyroid tumors. Immediately inform your doctor if you notice a lump in the neck, hoarseness (abnormal voice change), trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath.

The serious side effects of Liraglutide include inflammation (swelling and pain) of pancreas (pancreatitis), severe allergic reactions, low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia), kidney failure, and gall bladder problems.

Always look at the Liraglutide solution before injecting it. It should be clear, colorless, and free of particles. Do not use Liraglutide if it is colored, cloudy, thickened, or contains solid particles, or expired. You should inject it below the skin (subcutaneously) and not in vein or muscle. It is important to learn the technique before injecting it yourself.

Yes, you can use other anti-diabetic medicines but the dose needs to be adjusted. Do not mix other insulins with Liraglutide. It is important to know that, other medicines which have similar mechanism of action should not be used like exenatide or lixisenatide with Liraglutide.

If you forget to inject a dose, immediately inject the forgotten dose. But, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the forgotten dose and continue with your next dose. Remember not to double the dose.

Insulin Degludec is an ultra long-acting type of insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children (as young as 1 year of age) with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Insulin Degludec works like the insulin that is normally produced by the body and helps move sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy production. Also, it stops the liver from producing more sugar and this helps to normalize the blood sugar levels.

Insulin Degludec is injected just below the skin (subcutaneously). Your doctor will train you on the correct method and the areas (abdomen or stomach, thighs, arms, hips or buttocks) where you should inject it. It is advised that the site of injection should be changed within the chosen area of skin, for every dose. For example, if you have been advised to inject it into the skin of your stomach, avoid puncturing the same point on your stomach every day. Rather, inject the needle at a site that is slightly away, say around 1cm, from the previous injection. You can also consider switching sides while injecting, like choosing the right side on one day and the left side on the next day. This way, you can reduce the complications associated with repeated injections in the same site such as thickening of the fat tissue below the skin known as lipodystrophy, irritation, pain etc. After one to two weeks, you should move to another area of your body (eg. from the stomach to the arms or thighs) as advised by your doctor. Consult your doctor if you face any problems while injecting Insulin Degludec.

Both Insulin Degludec and insulin detemir are long-acting insulins with almost similar effectiveness and safety. The only difference is that Insulin Degludec has the longest duration of action (more than 40 hours) and this helps to maintain steady blood sugar levels throughout this duration. Some studies have reported that Insulin Degludec may have a slightly lesser risk of hypoglycemia.

Yes, Insulin Degludec may cause weight gain in some patients. This may be due to the anabolic effect of insulin which promotes the storage of glucose and fat.

No, Insulin Degludec by itself does not raise your blood sugar. However, if you stop taking Insulin Degludec, miss a dose or take a dose lower than what is prescribed, your blood sugar levels may rise. Furthermore, if the person has any other condition along with diabetes, especially infections, stress, irregular meals or reduced activity levels, it may also lead to high blood sugar levels. As a result, their requirement for Insulin Degludec may increase further. Consult your doctor to know about any dose changes if you have been facing any of these issues or if your blood sugar levels are not controlled.

Yes, take Insulin Degludec preferably at the same time every day and exactly as advised by your doctor. On occasions when it is not possible to take it at the same time of the day, it can be taken at a different time of the day. Make sure to have a minimum gap of 8 hours between doses. However, children and young adults must take their dose at the same time every day.

Insulin Degludec can be safely used in combination with other diabetes medicines or fast-acting insulin, if prescribed by the doctor. Take it in the dose and duration advised by your doctor to get maximum benefit. However, taking thiazolidinediones (TZDs), like pioglitazone, with Insulin Degludec may cause heart failure in some people. This can happen even if you have never had heart failure or heart problems. In case you already have heart failure, it may get worse on taking TZDs with Insulin Degludec. Let your doctor know about all the other medicines, particularly any other diabetes medicines you are taking and if you have or ever had any heart problems.

Avoid missing doses and take Insulin Degludec regularly as prescribed by the doctor. Do not miss your meals and follow a diabetic diet chart as advised by your doctor. You may consult a dietician to get a diabetic diet chart that suits you best. Your doctor will advise certain lifestyle changes and you must adhere to them. Stay active and exercise regularly. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Insulin Degludec affects you. Do not drink excessive alcohol as it may alter your blood sugar levels. Tell your doctor about all the other medicines that you are taking as they may affect your dosage. Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly and do not miss any appointments with your doctor.

Insulin Degludec can help with daily management of diabetes. Insulin Degludec is a long acting type of insulin that helps to normalize blood sugar levels for an entire day. However, you may still be prescribed a short-acting insulin or oral diabetes medicines to treat the spike (rise) in your blood sugar levels after taking a meal. Follow your doctor’s advice for keeping an adequate control on your blood sugar levels.

Yes, Insulin Degludec is a type of basal insulin or background insulin. These are long-acting insulins that keep working in the background over a 24 hour period (or more), to keep your blood sugar levels under control throughout your daily routine.