The takeaway
Fewer semaglutide participants crossed a diabetes-range blood-test threshold. That is encouraging, but it does not establish permanent prevention after treatment stops.
Who was studied?
SELECT randomized 17,604 adults aged 45 or older with overweight or obesity and cardiovascular disease, without diabetes, to weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo.
Percent of participants; one laboratory measurement, not a confirmed diagnosis
Original visual based on the study.
| Group or measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 1.5% |
| Placebo | 6.9% |
What changed?
By 156 weeks, an estimated 1.5% versus 6.9% had recorded HbA1c of at least 6.5%. This was a laboratory endpoint based on one measurement, not a confirmed clinical diagnosis.
Average HbA1c fell initially, then rose gradually at similar rates in both groups, staying lower with semaglutide.
What remains uncertain?
This secondary analysis did not test lasting effects after withdrawal. Comparisons were not adjusted for multiple testing; missing data and the selected population also matter. Improved tests during treatment are different from proof of a cure.
Novo Nordisk funded SELECT. The main SELECT summary covers its heart findings and treatment side effects.