How Semaglutide Changed My Life

Zainab Jan never imagined that diabetes and a weight loss treatment plan would result in one of the largest surprises of her life: a pregnancy after ten years.

A 37-year-old Islamabad resident with three children was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and began oral medication for six months. Yet, at a weight of 85 kilos, struggling with erratic sugar levels, her physician finally prescribed semaglutide, an injectable GLP-1 medication that regulates blood sugar and causes weight loss.

I was battling obesity and high sugar levels, so the doctor put me on semaglutide to enable me to get my health under control.

Starting the Journey

She was started on 0.25mg once a week. Although her early progress was satisfactory, she later began to experience mood swings.

"I was getting snappier," she said.

Her physician informed her that such early side effects as nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, or mood shifts were normal and would gradually go away on their own.

Two months on, her dosage was raised to 0.5 mg once a week. With reduced appetite and weight gain, Jan noticed actual improvement and lost two kilograms. She later switched to the escalated dose of 1mg once in a week. By month seven, she had lost a cumulative of 10 kilograms.

An Unexpected Turn

Just as she was rejoicing at her better health, her life took an unexpected turn.

"I had been having occasional missing periods because of hormonal imbalance caused by diabetes & obesity, so I didn't pay much heed to it initially," she remembered.

But during a regular check-up at a public hospital, she was given some amazing news: she was pregnant! Jan was utterly shocked and asked the medical officer how it could have happened, and even the doctor was surprised. What perplexed her further was that she had also been on a birth control patch then.

Despite taking the patch, I got pregnant while taking semaglutide.

The Medical Explanation

Experts indicate this isn't a complete shock.

Dr Sikandar Jamal, a consultant diabetologist, says that semaglutide results in sudden weight loss in most women, which could correct hormonal imbalance and ovulation, even in women with conditions like PCOs or insulin resistance.

Women who had previously been having irregular cycles or were considered to be infertile could suddenly find themselves fertile again without even knowing it. This can happen even with the use of contraceptives, particularly if the methods are less effective because of weight fluctuations or skipped doses.

As Jan's pregnancy was diagnosed early, the doctor discontinued semaglutide immediately. Jan turned to insulin for safer blood sugar management throughout pregnancy. Genetic testing was also suggested by her doctor to confirm the baby had not been harmed by early exposure to the drug.

I was petrified, but I adhered to all the medical advice and prayed day and night. Alhamdulillah, scans were okay and I was informed I could continue with the pregnancy.

A Miracle After 10 Years

Being a mother of a 12-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl, the pregnancy was seen by Jan and her husband as nothing but a miracle.

"After 10 years, this was miraculous. My kids and husband were ecstatic."

But not everyone was so considerate.

People were surprised and, honestly, critical. They mocked me and told me I was having another baby when my other kids were older. It felt strange, and it stung.

But she didn't let that stop her. "This was between my husband, the Almighty Allah, and me. Nobody else can have something to say about that."

Ever since her daughter's birth, her family feels whole again.

"We are full of joy and happiness, Alhamdulillah!"

A Message to Society

Now accepting motherhood again, she has one very specific message for our society: "People need to learn to respect other people's choices. Health, fertility, and family planning are personal choices. Rather than ridiculing or intruding, we should be nice and empathetic."