Weight loss social media trend impacts nationwide shortage of diabetic drug

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It might be hard to imagine a diabetes drug trending on social media, but that is exactly what is happening with the medication Ozempic.

Doctors say people without diabetes are using it for its weight loss side effect, and it’s contributing to a nationwide shortage.

If you look up the hashtag #ozempicweightloss on TikTok, you’ll find hundreds of videos of people boasting about how much weight they have lost on the drug.

“The mere fact that it’s a shortage and the people who really need it are not able to get it, that’s heartbreaking,” Tamberla Duckett, whose daughter has type 2 diabetes, said.

The advertising and social media buzz are prompting more people to ask their doctor for the drug, and some doctors are agreeing to write prescriptions to help them lose weight.

“They do cause weight loss which is a very welcoming thing for people who have diabetes but at the same time, a lot of people who don’t have diabetes are getting these medications and using them,” Dr. Kashif Latif, an endocrinologist in Memphis, said.

The FDA has reported a shortage of the drug, citing an increase in demand and manufacturing delays.

Dr. Latif said some of his patients with type 2 haven’t been able to get their prescriptions filled, which can lead to dangerous health effects.

“So absolutely when we have somebody who has diabetes, they really need to be on this medication to control their blood glucose levels because if their blood glucose is not controlled, obviously we are faced with more problems,” he said.

Until the shortage ends, Jennifer Reed, a registered dietitian and a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist for Baptist healthcare, said patients having trouble getting the drug should talk to their doctor about other options.

“We do have several options as well as several other good medications for type 2 diabetes, so nobody has to go without the medication, they just might have to switch to a different brand or a different one in the meantime,” she said.

Doctors say the most effective and cost-effective way to lose weight is to exercise and eat healthfully.

If that doesn’t work, you should talk to a medical professional who can help determine if medication is needed.

The FDA expects the Ozempic shortage to be resolved by next month.