Semaglutide: A Tool to Empower Indian Women Against the Twin Challenges of Diabetes and Weight

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Indian women represents a growing and complex public health challenge, driven by a combination of biological, sociocultural, and metabolic factors. Throughout their life stages including reproductive years, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause, Indian women exhibit increased susceptibility to central adiposity, insulin resistance, and cardiometabolic risk. Even so, treatment methods often focus only on weight or glucose, which does not help people who are both overweight and have high blood sugar levels, which is a problem that affects this group more than others. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist administered weekly, provides a mechanism-based approach aimed at achieving glycemic control and significant weight loss. In addition to lowering HbA1c levels, innovator semaglutide has shown benefits in managing weight and cardiovascular risk reduction. These are especially important for Indian women who often have abdominal obesity and early cardiometabolic problems. This review seeks to contextualize the role of semaglutide in Indian women with T2DM, emphasizing gender-specific factors, practical challenges, and the necessity for customized medical education. The article aims to promote a more cohesive, gender-sensitive therapeutic strategy that effectively tackles the interconnected metabolic and cardiometabolic risks encountered by Indian women with T2DM, by amalgamating existing clinical evidence and Indian practice viewpoints.