Watch out, Novo Nordisk, more affordable versions of Ozempic and Wegovy are on the way.

As patents on semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — expire in parts of the world, generic versions of this powerful GLP-1 medication are preparing to enter the market.

Countries like Canada, India, China, and Brazil are first in line, according to reports. And once generics arrive for any drug, prices across the board usually drop pretty quickly.

For patients who’ve been priced out of these medications, this is huge news.

Ozempic was first approved in 2018 for people with type 2 diabetes. Then came Wegovy in 2021, approved specifically for obesity. Demand exploded, as you already know. The prices soared. Then the shortages followed, which led many desperately trying to find pharmacies with any in stock.

All of the above meant actually getting these medications became ridiculously challenging — even for those who totally qualify with a type 2 and obesity diagnosis.

(What about type 1s? More on that in a minute.)

It does boggle the mind: why create a powerful drug that has the power to truly help people, but set it up to be nearly inaccessible for so many?

Now, that may finally start to change.

Canada Leads the Way on Generic Semaglutide

Earlier this month, semaglutide officially lost patent protection in Canada. That means generic drug companies can legally make and sell their own versions. Canada is the world’s second-largest semaglutide market, so what happens there matters.

Once multiple manufacturers enter the picture, the cost of these medications should drop. That could make semaglutide far more affordable for people with diabetes and obesity who have been denied coverage and/or simply can’t afford $1,000+ per month to take it consistently.

What About People with Type 1 Diabetes?

Here’s where things get especially interesting.

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic are not approved for type 1 diabetes — but many people with T1D are already using them off-label. And for good reason!

I’m one of them! I’ve been microdosing Ozempic for several years now. While I wasn’t looking to lose weight, this medication has been remarkably life-changing as a person with T1D.

Here’s why:

1. First, weight management. About 62% of adults with T1D are overweight or obese. That’s not a personal failure—it’s biology. Managing weight while injecting insulin (a hormone that promotes fat storage) is incredibly difficult. GLP-1s can help by reducing appetite and slowing digestion.
2. Second, hormone dysfunction. Type 1 diabetes isn’t just about insulin. The body also struggles to properly regulate several other hormones that affect hunger, fullness, liver glucose output, and insulin sensitivity. GLP-1 medications help fill in some of those missing hormonal signals.
3. Third, insulin resistance. Many people with T1D need more and more insulin over time to get the same results. That makes blood sugar management harder and raises A1C levels. GLP-1s will likely reduce your daily insulin needs significantly. Obviously, this can make glucose levels easier to manage.

Some clinicians worry about hypoglycemia when combining GLP-1s with insulin. But many people with T1D argue the opposite: needing less insulin can actually reduce lows, because you’re taking significantly less insulin once you adjust your doses to match your new insulin sensitivity.

A Big Warning and a Big Opportunity

Starting a GLP-1 with type 1 diabetes requires a lot of support from your healthcare team because you’ll experience nearly immediate changes in your insulin sensitivity.

Basal rates, carb ratios, and correction factors can all change. Be careful!

Learn More About Ozempic & Type 1 Diabetes

• How Does Ozempic Work?
• We Take Ozempic & Mounjaro with Type 1 Diabetes
• 5 Other Hormones Affected by T1D and T2D
• 5 Mistakes Newbies Make While Taking GLP-1s
• Before You Start Taking GLP-1
• Managing GLP-1 Side Effects
• Using GLP-1s to Treat Addiction
• My First Year on Ozempic with T1D
• My First Month on Ozempic with T1D
• Yes, I Microdose Ozempic with T1D
• We Both Microdose Ozempic with T1D
• Endocrinologist Insights on Ozempic with T1D
• Getting Ozempic with T1D
  

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We Need Access to GLP-1s

As generic semaglutide becomes available globally, access will expand—and so will conversations about who these medications can help. For people with diabetes of all types, the era of affordable GLP-1s is finally beginning.

And it’s about time.