The reason your practitioner uses units for dosing is that it is very easy for you to draw up the exact number of units in a syringe. Check out the chart below to find out how units convert to milligrams:

The sign-up and quiz are quick and easy. First you will fill out the questionnaire by answering a few medical and health history questions. You will then be directed to send us a copy of your state-provided ID for identity verification which will complete your file. You will select either semaglutide or tirzepatide as your therapy of choice and place your order. Upon completion, your physician will review the information, confirm that you qualify for treatment, and start the prescription and shipping process.  Every 8 weeks, you will confirm your file information and a Dr. from our medical team will review your file. Once the review is approved, your next prescription will be automatically sent unless you cancel before renewal.

Your GLP-1 program includes the physician review, your GLP-1 medication, syringes, alcohol swabs and shipping is always free.  You will also receive information on the product and the process of administering it (which is also available on the Kiaora website). In addition to this you will enjoy access to premium education, content, and recipes, as well as access to two free coaching sessions from one of our TH certified coaches with your initial prescription!

Every 8 weeks you will have a physician review by your online doctor (this is included in your monthly program cost). If you and your doctor are pleased with your progress, you can remain at the current dose, or if you determine together that your dose needs to be increased, a new Rx with the increased dose will be issued. Upon renewal, your new Rx will be shipped to your door every 8 weeks (as long as you remain in the program).

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (or GLP-1) is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that is secreted in the gut and targets multiple receptors throughout the body related to appetite and hunger.

Among the many functions GLP-1 performs in the body, perhaps the three most powerful are insulin regulation, blood sugar control, and appetite suppression. When it comes to appetite, this can be why some people tend to overeat while others have more of an instinct about when to stop. The person putting down their fork may have greater natural levels of GLP-1 while the one going back for seconds may have less of this hormone, or may simply be  less sensitive to it.

GLP-1 therapy is a breakthrough treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes. They belong to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Incretin Mimetics. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are among the newer GLP-1’s, however the first therapy in this class was FDA approved in 2005 for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes (so these therapies have been around for almost 20 years).

The natural function of GLP-1 is short-lived in the body. It pulses during and after eating, and then quickly subsides. Some of us naturally produce less GLP-1 than others, which can make it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight. Studies have also shown declining levels of GLP-1 in fasting serum in aging populations. This peptide therapy helps our bodies to recognize the “full” signal to the brain and slows emptying of the stomach, which results in a more efficient processing of our food as well as a reduction in cravings.

• GLP-1 therapies activate gut hormone receptors in the pancreas, which allows greater uptake of blood sugar by the cells after a meal
• GLP-1 inhibits glucagon secretion from the pancreas. Glucagon is an important and necessary hormone, but you don’t want the liver to overproduce it after eating, as this can cause excess weight gain
• GLP-1 slows digestion and gastric emptying, which prolongs the feeling of “fullness” after a meal
• GLP-1 regulates the brain’s hunger signals, resulting in a sense of satisfaction with fewer calories

This will be unique for each person, however the “lose as much weight as quickly as possible” approach will never be the Kiaora way. While there are published trials demonstrating very rapid weight loss using GLP-1 therapies, this course of action requires high dosages and typically increases the likelihood of negative side-effects. The doctors we work alongside recommend a measured approach by starting at the initial dosage and increasing monthly until the weight loss reaches an optimal level. Even if you do not see drops on the scale every single week, positive shifts will likely be happening in your insulin production, blood sugar levels and overall inflammation. A slower but steady path to weight loss is much healthier for your body. Rapid weight loss depletes muscle mass swiftly and can be taxing to your liver.

GLP-1 therapies can produce rapid weight loss for some people of two to three pounds per week when used in high doses. But when this type of rapid weight loss occurs the body goes into a catabolic state, and a significant loss of muscle can occur along with the loss of fat. Other contributors to the very rapid weight loss some achieve with these medications are from a lack of protein and/or skipped meals due to doses that cause extreme appetite suppression. Once again, this often results in muscle loss and other gastro-intestinal issues. The best results are not the fastest results. Try to ignore the temptation to “keep up with the Joneses” so to speak. Others who are on higher doses and losing more than one pound per week may gush about their success, but you don’t want that because it only looks like success, when in reality it is not. Let your body shed fat safely and steadily while keeping muscle. This will not look like multiple pounds lost every single week but even on low doses, many see excellent results. To avoid that catabolic state, it’s crucial to have a low and slow approach along with a wise diet (one that does not pull out any food groups or meals), ample protein, and a minimum of three days a week of strength training.

Semaglutide was the first GLP-1 therapy to become sensationalized in the drug market and was initially used as an effective therapy for diabetes. Millions of people began using semaglutide for diabetes and many began to find that they were losing weight. Since then, another peptide therapy called tirzepatide has gained great popularity, not only for its increased weight loss and blood sugar success, but also because of diminished common side effects such as nausea and other digestion issues. Tirzepatide targets weight loss not only through the GLP-1 mechanism but also through GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide). Basically, tirzepatide has double action and is also called a “twincreatin” therapy as it mimics two groups of hormones which makes it more effective for many (but also more expensive).

The FDA approved the use of GLP-1 therapies as an adjunct for weight management in individuals without diabetes, but only when used in conjunction with other weight-loss measures and with a doctor's supervision. GLP-1 therapy can aid in the treatment of obesity when used in conjunction with evidence-based lifestyle treatments like better nutrition and exercise.

Some people may experience lower levels of energy, especially at higher doses which can cause an unhealthy calorie deficit. This is one of the reasons we recommend 4 protein-centered fuelings per day, being sure not to exclude healthy carbs such as fruit, sweet potatoes, beans, legumes, and whole grains from your diet.

GLP-1 therapies can cause significant appetite suppression for many people. It’s important that you stay on as low a dose as your medical practitioner feels provides you just the right amount of suppression, and not so much that you are skipping meals or completely forgetting to eat. Your meals will likely be smaller than what you’ve been used to eating due to some appetite suppression, so be sure they contain adequate nutrition. Some people make the mistake of eating smaller portions of unhealthy food, but you want to be sure to eat healthy foods so that you can receive adequate nutrition in smaller meals.

Focus on small meals that contain lean protein. At all costs, you must avoid losing more muscle mass while you lose fat! Adequate protein will be crucial to ensure this muscle wasting doesn’t happen… an adequate amount of protein is roughly 25 - 30 grams per meal. You may also want to consider the leucine content of your protein. Without sufficient leucine (one of the 9 essential amino acids) you cannot protect or build your lean body mass. Your body needs a minimum of 2 grams of leucine in a protein serving but 3 is optimal. If you can, make use of our ESSENTIAL (amino acid protein formula). This is a powder that you simply mix with water and drink. It gives you the bioequivalence of 90 grams of protein per serving with a full 3-gram bolus of leucine. Since the amino acids bypass digestion and go straight to your muscles, none of the protein is wasted or stored as fat. ESSENTIAL or any of our other Optimized proteins which contain a 3-gram leucine bolus per serving will ensure against muscle wasting. When you can’t think of eating much, just taking a drink of ESSENTIAL will make certain you get all your protein needs filled.

These therapies work best when paired with healthy eating. Eating fried foods or sugar-filled foods can cause gastrointestinal side effects to worsen for many. Just because semaglutide and tirzepatide tend to lower appetite, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can now eat small amounts of devitalized foods and be fine. Yes, you still might lose weight this way, but it is not a healthy approach.

Your appetite may be reduced as the emptying of your stomach slows. If you have suffered from “food noise” where your brain constantly thinks about food, this may diminish or completely subside. As your desire for food diminishes, you don’t have to eat huge meals… but don’t skip meals just because you don’t feel your regular amount of hunger. Skipping meals causes a state of LEA (low energy available) and also lowers leptin and thyroid hormones. Even though your meal portions may be smaller, it is important to include ample protein at every meal, as well as to choose from healthy carbs or healthy fats. Using semaglutide or tirzepatide as a way to intermittent fast can be dangerous, as it can harm your metabolism by causing potentially dangerous loss of muscle.

As mentioned earlier, rapid weight loss can be harmful to the body. Recent research has revealed something called “weight loss injury” which occurs when the outer covering of fat cells (known as the outer cellular matrix) is forced to purge its stores quickly. Weight loss injury results in a stiffening effect on the fat cell, and it no longer works like a healthy one, becoming inflexible. This stiffening along with a loss of lean body mass, due to the absence of adequate calories and protein, is brutal to long-term metabolism. Body composition can begin to rearrange to higher fat levels and lower lean muscle tissue. There might be a lot of success on the scale, but the reality is “skinny fat” with depleted leptin and thyroid levels to boot. Keeping to a moderate dose that produces steady weight loss, reduces these negative effects and is the wiser approach when using these therapies in the most body-honoring and healthful way.

Absolutely. If you are doing well at a lower dose, you can stay at that dosage level.

If you miss a dose of your GLP-1 medication and the next scheduled dose is more than 2 days away, apply it as soon as possible, then adjust your weekly dose accordingly. If you miss a dose, and the next scheduled dose is less than 2 days away, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. If you miss a dose of this medicine for more than 2 weeks, use it on the next scheduled dose. You can also ask your doctor about how to restart your treatment.

The duration of treatment with GLP-1 therapies for weight loss will depend on your individual needs and goals. In clinical trials, treatment typically lasted for 68 weeks, but some patients may continue treatment for longer periods of time in order to maintain weight loss.
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Patients with less weight to lose, or who are more disciplined about combining GLP-1 therapies with a healthy diet and exercise may reach their target weight much sooner! If you are diligent about protecting and building your lean body mass (ie – muscle) through protein fueling and strength training while using these therapies, it is possible you may no longer need them once you are at your target weight. However, everyone is different, and some people may need to stay on a small maintenance dose.

Weight training, along with about four protein fuelings a day will be very important in protecting your lean body mass. Weight training is encouraged, especially targeting your glutes and lower body for two days and upper body for the other day. Walking is encouraged for two more days per week if you can find the time, but the most important exercise sessions while on these therapies are the weight training.

GLP-1 therapies are considered safe and effective when used as directed. But safe doesn’t mean that there aren’t risks. GLP-1 therapies also carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors occurring in rodents (with unknown risk in humans), therefore GLP-1 therapies shouldn’t be used if you or your family have a history of a rare thyroid cancer known as Medullary thyroid cancer. GLP-1 therapies should not be used in people with type-1 diabetes or a history of pancreatitis. GLP-1 therapies may not be right for people on certain other blood sugar-lowering medications.

GLP-1 therapy is administered as a subcutaneous injection – “shot” – which is typically given in the fat of the abdomen or thigh once a week. It is done with a very small insulin syringe and is usually rather painless and not difficult to do.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, itching; dizziness, fast heartbeats; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Vision changes; unusual mood changes, thoughts about hurting yourself; pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest; a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; signs of a thyroid tumor--swelling or a lump in your neck, trouble swallowing, a hoarse voice, feeling short of breath; symptoms of pancreatitis--severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea with or without vomiting, fast heart rate; gallbladder problems--upper stomach pain, fever, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); low blood sugar--headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, or feeling jittery; kidney problems--swelling, urinating less, feeling tired or short of breath

Because GLP-1 therapies mimic the body’s natural peptides, imitating a hormone that the body produces naturally, it is generally considered quite safe and well tolerated – when prescribed by a qualified physician as part of a balanced weight loss plan.

The most common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. Other possible side effects include abdominal pain, decreased appetite, headache, and fatigue.

These side effects typically subside over time, as the patient’s body becomes used to the therapies and they learn the routine of the new reduced fat and caloric intake. Also, there are fewer instances of these side effects with tirzepatide than with semaglutide.

It is important to stay well hydrated with plenty of water (not sugary drinks like sodas or fruit juice). Eat fiber rich foods, healthy proteins and leafy greens and other veggies to combat digestion issues. If needed, teas such as Smooth Move may be helpful if constipation occurs.

If nausea becomes a problem – contact your physician through your patient portal; there are anti-nausea medications they can prescribe that are highly effective.

Most patients who are prescribed GLP-1 therapies find that they do not need additional weight management meds.

GLP-1's should not be used in combination with other GLP-1 receptor agonists or therapies that increase GLP-1 receptor activity. GLP-1 therapies can be used in combination with other weight loss medications, but the safety and efficacy of such combinations have not been studied and needs to be addressed with your physician.

Most medications do not interfere with GLP-1 therapies. However, we suggest that you discuss this therapy with your physician, as with any medication.

There is limited information available about the safety of these therapies during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Pregnant and breastfeeding women will be excluded from Kiaora’s therapy at this time. If you become pregnant while on therapy, please contact the medical staff through your online patient portal.

GLP-1 therapies are also approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, so they can be used by people with both obesity and type 2 diabetes. The safety and efficacy for use by type 1 diabetics have not been studied yet.

To complete a consultation, you will be required to answer a brief online medical questionnaire.

Your information will then be reviewed by a licensed physician, who will confirm your eligibility for treatment, and will write a prescription for those who meet the criteria.

Our services are confidential, and your medical information and order history can only be viewed by our team of medical professionals and pharmacists. You can view our Privacy Policy for more information.

GLP-1 therapies do require a prescription. If you're eligible for treatment based on your answers to our medical questionnaire, our medical providers will issue you a private prescription for the therapy they believe is the best fit for you.

Be sure to store your medication in the refrigerator…BUT DO NOT FREEZE. Also be sure to wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol pad BEFORE EVERY INJECTION.

Card payments will be shown under the name Kiaora.

Insurance companies generally only cover these therapies for those with type 2 diabetes, so we are unable to take insurance for GLP-1 therapies.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose may cause severe nausea, vomiting, or low blood sugar.