Will oral semaglutide be a game-changer in the management of type 2 diabetes in primary care?

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), particularly those at high cardiovascular risk. Oral semaglutide is the first oral GLP-1RA. In clinical trials, oral semaglutide 14 mg reduced mean HbA1c by approximately 1.1-1.5% and reduced body weight by up to 5 kg. These changes were significantly greater compared with empagliflozin, sitagliptin and liraglutide (p < 0.05 for estimated treatment differences at 52 weeks in patients on treatment without rescue medication use). The most common side effects were gastrointestinal, mainly mild-to-moderate and transient nausea. Oral semaglutide may change the paradigm of T2D treatment in primary care.