Susan Judd’s body had been through a lot. A type 1 diabetic, she had managed her condition with insulin injections for decades. Then, when she struggled to get pregnant, she underwent nine gruelling rounds of IVF, before having back-to-back pregnancies at 38 and 40.
By the time she entered perimenopause in her late 40s, her health challenges had taken their toll and she’d reached her heaviest weight of 96kg (212lbs or 15st).
No matter what diet or exercise regime she tried, she struggled to shed the kilos.
Then, in 2021, she went for lunch with a friend who was drastically slimmer.
When Susan asked her how she’d done it, the friend confided she’d been taking Ozempic. She said she had no desire to eat and the fat was just melting off – she’d dropped from a size 18 to a size 10 in a matter of months.
To Susan it sounded almost too good to be true.
‘I spoke to my endocrinologist about it, how I felt, and shared that no matter what I ate or did, nothing was working to lose weight. I was the heaviest I had ever been, so I was eager to try anything,’ Susan, now 58, from Port Macquarie, told the Daily Mail.
When Susan Judd (pictured) started taking Ozempic, she thought she would have the same positive outcome as her friend – but her experience of the drug was quite the opposite
‘Since I’m a type 1 diabetic, I wasn’t eligible for a GLP-1, so she put me on Metformin, which controls blood sugar levels to improve how the body uses insulin and help with my insulin resistance.’
‘A few months later, after my GP did some research to ensure it was safe, I started taking Ozempic. I was hopeful it would change my life.’
Sadly for Susan, her experience on the weight-loss drug was far from smooth sailing. As her doctor gradually increased her dose month on month, she experienced progressively worsening side effects.
‘By the time I got to the full dose, I had headaches, felt constipated, then had diarrhoea and awful stomach cramps,’ Susan said.
‘For work, I’m often speaking in front of large groups of people and the symptoms were just horrible.’
For six months, Susan hung in there, hoping things would improve – and her 10kg weight loss fuelled her determination to remain on the drug.
Her doctor had assured her the side effects would ease as her body adjusted – instead, they worsened.
‘I didn’t feel like eating at all and felt nauseous all the time. I stopped drinking anything but water,’ Susan said.
‘By the time I got to the full dose, I had headaches, felt constipated, then had diarrhoea and awful stomach cramps,’ Susan said – and things only got worse after that
‘I couldn’t stomach dairy, coffee, fat, most protein, eggs. Nearly anything made me nauseous. I knew I needed to eat but I just couldn’t.
‘It also made me really constipated in the first few days, then I had loose stools, along with vomiting. It was horrid.’
On a good day, Susan could manage some toast and fruit in the morning, then some fish, bland carbs or salad for her evening meal.
For most people, gastroenteritis – commonly called gastro or stomach flu – is unpleasant. But for someone with type 1 diabetes, it can be life-threatening because it disrupts blood glucose levels.
As a result, Susan was caught in a constant cycle: her medication triggered gastro-like symptoms, which then affected her blood glucose – something she needed to manage very carefully.
‘There’s a human dilemma behind it all: You know it’s not going to make you feel good, and could put you in danger, but the desire to lose weight is greater than all of it. I wasn’t ready to stop,’ she said.
‘I had already lost 10kg and wanted to lose 10 more. I wanted to feel better about myself so I said, “I’m going to stay on it regardless of how bad it’s making me feel.”‘
But in April 2023, Susan’s decision to push through with the medication would cost her dearly when she went on a family holiday to Turkey.
‘I went overseas to Turkey for the Anzac Day service and I was so sick. I couldn’t eat any of the food on offer, I was too nauseous. I had stomach cramps and had to leave dinner to throw up,’ she said.
‘I thought I had gastro again. On a bus with a group of people, in a foreign country, where nobody really speaks English. I even threw up in the foyer of the four-star hotel we were staying at.
‘I felt so crook, and told my husband, “I feel like I’m dying.”‘
With a high fever and excruciating stomach cramps, Susan had no choice but to call an ambulance. She was rushed to the emergency room where she was treated for severe dehydration.
Susan knew the Ozempic was responsible, but she wasn’t ready to give up just yet. Instead, she met with her doctor and they agreed to lower her dosage.
While easier to manage, the side effects continued and Susan was only able to drop another two kilos over the next six months.
Finally, her doctor suggested switching to Mounjaro – a newer weight-loss injection containing tirzepatide, which targets both GLP-1 and GIP hormones.
This dual action can help some people lose weight more effectively, particularly those who haven’t seen results with Ozempic.
As soon as she made the switch, she started to feel better.
‘My appetite is definitely suppressed, and I have much smaller servings than the rest of my family, but I can eat whatever I want,’ Susan said.
‘I don’t ever feel like high-fat or high processed foods and I won’t have a meal without a salad – I still crave salad! In the past, I could just have a bowl of pasta, but now I’ll have a small serving with greens on the side.’
Susan believes that, due to her type 1 diabetes and insulin resistance, she’ll never be a size 10. However, Mounjaro has stabilised her weight at about 84kg (185lbs or just over 13st) – something she was never able to achieve on her own.
‘Before, every time I saw my endocrinologist, I had gained a kilo or two. Now that has stopped and I’m happy to stay on Mounjaro despite the expense,’ she said.
Susan says, ‘I’d rather be alive and healthy than thin’, but admits she would love to one day get down to 75kg (165lbs or nearly 12st).
Despite the horrid side effects, Susan doesn’t regret taking Ozempic.
‘I dropped a few dress sizes, started feeling better about myself when I looked in the mirror and couldn’t have lost the weight without it. It just wasn’t right for me long-term,’ she said.
For Susan, living well with diabetes while on a GLP-1 is no longer about being thin – it’s about staying healthy.
Disclaimer: Speak to your doctor or healthcare professional to receive medical advice about what’s right for you
What are the most common side effects of Ozempic?
Doctors warn common Ozempic side effects can include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhoea, as well as fatigue and headaches.
In extreme cases, patients may also experience pancreatitis, kidney issues, thyroid issues, vision changes, bowel obstruction, and dizziness, all of which require urgent medical assistance.
<!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/lifestyle/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
Advertisement