Today, Mounjaro is probably best known as a medication that helps people lose weight. However, it was originally designed to help treat type 2 diabetes, helping people with the condition better regulate their blood sugar.
Mounjaro is still approved to help treat type 2 diabetes, and for many people living with the condition, it can help them manage their blood sugar and their weight at the same time.
Here, we’ll explore how Mounjaro can help people with type 2 diabetes, looking not just at how it helps them regulate their blood sugar levels but also at the other benefits it can offer and how it can help their health more generally.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is a prescription medication. It’s the brand name for the active ingredient tirzepatide, a type of medication known as a GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist that’s used to treat both type 2 diabetes and obesity, aiding in weight loss. It’s self-administered weekly, and it helps people regulate their blood sugar levels and lose weight.
How does Mounjaro help manage type 2 diabetes?
The body needs insulin to regulate blood sugar, and it’s produced by the pancreas. However, people with type 2 diabetes either don’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it effectively, meaning that they’re at risk of high blood sugar levels. This can lead to short-term and long-term health problems.
Mounjaro activates GLP-1 and GIP receptors. GLP-1 and GIP are hormones that the body produces after eating. Blood sugar levels rise when we eat, and these hormones tell the pancreas to release insulin, in turn regulating blood sugar. One common misconception is that Mounjaro replaces or creates insulin itself. Instead, it simply helps the body produce it and use it more effectively.
How Mounjaro helps people lose weight
While Mounjaro was developed for people with type 2 diabetes, it’s now also used for people living with obesity and related chronic conditions to help with weight loss.
GLP-1 helps people manage hunger by slowing digestion and reducing appetite, while GIP supports GLP-1 by changing how some of the fat in the body is stored, and it may also help boost metabolism.
Being a dual receptor agonist, Mounjaro imitates both GLP-1 and GIP and sends messages to the brain that make the body think it’s full and reduce appetite. As a result, people using Mounjaro are likely to eat less and, in turn, lose weight.
The wider benefits of Mounjaro
While Mounjaro should only be used by those who’ve been prescribed it to manage type 2 diabetes, weight loss, or a related health condition, Mounjaro may have other health benefits.
In clinical trials, there are indications that Mounjaro may help treat fatty liver disease, a condition where there’s a buildup of fat in the liver, potentially because it may reduce liver fat content.
Mounjaro might also reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and heart failure, studies indicating that it could improve important heart health markers, increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation and fat deposits.
Who can use Mounjaro?
In the UK, Mounjaro is prescribed to adults to help treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as obesity-related chronic health conditions. It’s usually used by adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more along with at least one other existing weight-related health condition, including hypertension (high blood pressure), obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, and dyslipidaemia (abnormal fat levels in the blood).
There are some people who shouldn’t take Mounjaro, however, including the following:
- People under 18
- People who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- People with a known allergy to tirzepatide
- People with an individual or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2)
- People with a history of pancreatitis
- People with severe gastrointestinal disease, such as gastroparesis
- People already using a different GLP-1 medication, such as Wegovy
If you think Mounjaro could be a good fit for you, it’s best to talk things through with medical professionals to find out more. Our team at The Virtual Slimming Clinic can help you decide whether Mounjaro might be able to help you. Why not start an assessment with us today?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main benefits of Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes?
Mounjaro can help people manage health conditions including type 2 diabetes and obesity. It helps people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels, and helps people living with obesity lose weight.
Can Mounjaro help with weight loss if I have type 2 diabetes?
Mounjaro can help with weight loss in people who have type 2 diabetes and aid them in regulating their blood sugar levels at the same time. However, Mounjaro can also help people who don’t have type 2 diabetes but live with obesity.
How is Mounjaro different from Wegovy?
Mounjaro is the brand name for the active ingredient tirzepatide, whereas Wegovy is the brand name for the active ingredient semaglutide. They’re both GLP-1 receptor agonists, but Mounjaro also activates GIP receptors. There is some data indicating that Mounjaro users can see more weight change at higher doses, but research is fairly limited.
Can I use Mounjaro if I don’t have type 2 diabetes?
While Mounjaro was first developed to treat type 2 diabetes, many of the people using it to help them lose weight do not have the condition. It’s approved to treat type 2 diabetes, obesity, and obesity-related health conditions.
