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If you’ve been struggling with your weight despite trying everything, I have some genuinely exciting news to share with you. At Dr. Sende Wellness in Miami, we’re now offering GLP-3—a breakthrough weight loss medication that’s showing results beyond anything we’ve seen before. And here’s what makes this different: you’ll be working with a double board-certified cardiologist and internal medicine physician who understands how losing weight protects your heart, not just your waistline.
What Makes GLP-3 Different From Other Weight Loss Medications?
Let me explain this in plain terms. GLP-3 is what we call a triple-hormone receptor agonist. That means it activates three different hormone systems in your body at once—GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide), GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), and glucagon receptors. Think of it like having three powerful tools working together instead of just one.
While earlier medications work on one pathway and some newer options work on two, GLP-3 targets all three. This matters because each pathway does something different: one helps you feel full and satisfied, another regulates your blood sugar and insulin, and the third boosts your body’s ability to actually burn fat and increase energy expenditure.
The results speak for themselves. In a landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, participants taking the 12-mg dose of GLP-3 lost an average of 24.2% of their body weight after 48 weeks. That translates to about 58 pounds for someone starting at 240 pounds. Even more impressive, more than 9 of 10 participants lost at least 10% of their weight, nearly two-thirds lost 20% or more, and a quarter lost 30% or more. These numbers rival what we typically see with bariatric surgery.
And the research keeps getting better. Just recently, results from the TRIUMPH-4 Phase 3 trial showed that participants taking GLP-3 achieved up to 28.7% weight loss (71.2 pounds) over 68 weeks. This represents some of the most significant weight loss results ever seen with medication.
The Heart Connection: Why Seeing a Cardiologist for Weight Loss Matters
Here’s something most people don’t realize: excess weight doesn’t just affect how you look or feel—it puts enormous stress on your cardiovascular system. Every extra pound your heart has to pump blood through increases your risk for high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke.
This is why Dr. Sende’s credentials matter so much. As a board-certified cardiologist, he sees firsthand what obesity does to the heart. He’s not just helping you lose weight; he’s actively working to reduce your cardiovascular disease risk and protect your heart for the long term.
Recent research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2024 shows that GLP-3 does something remarkable for heart health. In clinical trials, the medication significantly improved multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Participants saw reductions in non-HDL cholesterol by up to 26.9%, apolipoprotein B (a key marker of heart disease risk) by up to 24.2%, and triglycerides by up to 40.6%. The medication also reduced the number of dangerous small LDL particles—the kind that really clog your arteries—and improved blood pressure readings.
What really excites cardiologists about GLP-3 is something called the lipoprotein insulin resistance score, which decreased by over 30% in study participants. This suggests the medication is fundamentally improving how your body processes fats and sugars, which has huge implications for preventing heart attacks and strokes down the road.
What to Expect: Your GLP-3 Journey at Dr. Sende Wellness
Starting a weight loss medication can feel overwhelming, but we make the process straightforward. Here’s what typically happens:
Your First Visit: We’ll do a comprehensive evaluation of your health history, current medications, weight loss goals, and most importantly, your cardiovascular health. Dr. Sende will check your blood pressure, review your cholesterol levels, and assess any heart-related concerns. This isn’t a quick in-and-out appointment—we take the time to really understand your unique situation.
Starting Treatment: GLP-3 is given as a once-weekly injection that you can do at home. We start with a lower dose (typically 2 mg) and gradually increase it over several weeks. This step-wise approach, similar to what was used in the clinical trials, helps minimize side effects and allows your body to adjust. Most patients work their way up to either the 8-mg or 12-mg dose depending on their response and tolerance.
What You’ll Experience: Most patients start seeing results within the first few weeks. The weight loss continues progressively over months—in fact, participants in the phase 2 trial hadn’t even plateaued by week 48, suggesting there’s potential for even greater weight loss with longer treatment. Alongside the weight changes, you’ll likely notice you’re less hungry, you feel satisfied with smaller portions, and your energy levels improve.
Monitoring Your Progress: This is where having a cardiologist really matters. Dr. Sende doesn’t just track your weight. He monitors your blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and other cardiovascular markers. If you’re on blood pressure medications, we often find patients can reduce or even stop some of them as they lose weight—in one study, about 41% of participants in the 8-mg group and 30% in the 12-mg group discontinued at least one antihypertensive medication during the treatment period.
Potential Side Effects: Like other GLP-1 medications, the most common side effects are gastrointestinal—things like nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or vomiting. These tend to be mild to moderate and typically improve as your body adjusts. The most common adverse events in the GLP-3 groups were gastrointestinal, were dose-related, and were mostly mild to moderate in severity. The good news? The side effect profile is similar to other medications in this class that millions of people are already using safely.
Beyond Weight Loss: The Metabolic Health Revolution
What gets me most excited about GLP-3 isn’t just the impressive weight loss numbers—it’s how it seems to fundamentally improve metabolic health across the board. The research shows this medication addresses multiple health problems at once:
Blood Sugar Control: Even in people without diabetes, GLP-3 significantly improved blood sugar control, fasting insulin levels, and hemoglobin A1c. Many participants who started with prediabetes saw their blood sugar normalize. For those with type 2 diabetes, other studies showed A1c reductions of 1.3% to 2.0%—that’s substantial.
Liver Health: Early data suggests improvements in fatty liver disease markers. This makes sense given that the medication improves how your body processes fats and sugars, which are central to liver health.
Blood Pressure: Consistent reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure have been observed across multiple studies. Systolic blood pressure fell an average of 5 to 8 mm Hg in all GLP-3 groups except those on 1 mg. This happens partly from weight loss, but also from the medication’s direct effects on your cardiovascular system.
Energy Metabolism: Unlike medications that just suppress appetite, GLP-3’s glucagon receptor activation actually increases your body’s energy expenditure and promotes fat oxidation. You’re not just eating less—you’re burning more efficiently.
Joint Health: The recent TRIUMPH-4 trial results also showed improvements in osteoarthritis pain, with GLP-3 reducing pain scores by up to 75.8% and more than 1 out of 8 GLP-3-treated patients becoming completely free from knee pain. This makes sense given the reduced stress on joints.
Is GLP-3 Right for You?
GLP-3 is being studied in people with obesity (BMI of 30 or higher) or those who are overweight (BMI of 27 or higher) with at least one weight-related health condition like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or prediabetes.
You might be a good candidate if you’ve tried losing weight through diet and exercise alone without lasting success, if you have cardiovascular risk factors that need addressing, or if you’re dealing with obesity-related health complications.
You’re probably not a candidate if you have a personal or family history of certain thyroid cancers, severe gastrointestinal disease, or are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
The best way to know? Come in for a consultation. Dr. Sende will review your complete medical picture and help you understand whether GLP-3 or another weight loss approach makes the most sense for your specific situation.
What Sets Dr. Sende Wellness Apart?
Cardiology Expertise: When a cardiologist manages your weight loss, you’re getting someone who deeply understands the connection between obesity and heart disease. Dr. Sende doesn’t just see weight loss as an aesthetic goal—he sees it as cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment.
Comprehensive Care: You’re not just getting a prescription and sent on your way. You’ll receive regular monitoring of all your health markers, adjustment of medications as needed, and guidance on nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes that support your success.
Personalized Treatment Plans: Every patient is different. Dr. Sende takes into account your medical history, current health conditions, cardiovascular risk factors, and personal goals to create a treatment plan specifically for you.
Miami Location: Conveniently located in Miami, Dr. Sende Wellness serves patients throughout South Florida who are looking for advanced, physician-supervised weight loss treatment.
The Future of Weight Loss Medicine
Multiple ongoing trials (the TRIUMPH program) are investigating GLP-3 for various conditions including obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and knee osteoarthritis. There’s even a cardiovascular outcomes trial studying whether GLP-3 can reduce heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease progression in high-risk patients. Seven additional Phase 3 trials are expected to report results in 2026.
This isn’t just about looking better—it’s about fundamentally improving your health, protecting your heart, and reducing your risk for serious cardiovascular events. When you combine a medication this powerful with the expertise of a board-certified cardiologist, you’re giving yourself the best possible chance for long-term success.
Your Next Step
If you’ve been struggling with your weight and nothing seems to work long-term, it might be time to try a different approach. GLP-3 represents a genuine breakthrough in weight loss medicine, and having a cardiologist like Dr. Sende guide your treatment means you’re not just losing weight—you’re actively protecting your heart and improving your metabolic health.
Call Dr. Sende Wellness today to schedule your consultation. We’ll take the time to understand your health history, discuss your goals, and determine if GLP-3 is the right option for you. This could be the turning point you’ve been looking for.
Dr. Sende Wellness – Miami, Florida
Double Board-Certified in Cardiology and Internal Medicine
Specializing in Medical Weight Loss, Cardiovascular Health, and Metabolic Wellness
