One in three Ozempic users in Denmark don’t have diabetes

A study from Aarhus University and the University of Southern Denmark has found that one-third of Danes who began using the diabetes medication Ozempic in 2022 did not have diabetes. Ozempic, produced by Novo Nordisk since 2018, is approved for type 2 diabetes but has become known for aiding weight loss. The number of Danish Ozempic users has increased tenfold since its introduction. Researchers noted that new users tend to be younger and increasingly female, and that it’s being prescribed earlier in diabetes treatment and for lower blood sugar levels. Despite guidelines suggesting alternative treatments before Ozempic, many received it from the start or from weight-loss clinics, a practice known as ‘off-label use.’ Due to its high cost and widespread usage, the Danish Medicines Agency announced that public subsidy for Ozempic will now be given only after cheaper diabetes treatments have been attempted.