Come May 13th, 2022 a new medicine for Type 2 Diabetes known as Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) became available in the market. It is a first-of-its-class medicine called a GLP-1/GIP agonist.

Now to the point: How effective is this new medication & is the hype around it genuine?

What is a GLP-1/GIP agonist?

You may have already heard about Mounjaro. You may have also wondered why the healthcare community is on the craze about this drug and what it means for you.

What exactly is a GLP-1/GIP agonist? It is a drug class that acts on the two primary incretin hormones, or hormones that decrease blood sugars. These are hormones that are normally released after eating and help insulin be secreted from the pancreas. In type 2 diabetes, these hormones are greatly decreased and do not work as well to cause that insulin secretion.

What makes Mounjaro so unique?

Mounjaro has a dual mechanism of action, meaning, it targets two diabetes-related pathways in your body instead of one. PLUS this medication is a once-weekly injection making administration so much easier than doing one or more injections in a day.

Mounjaro has other benefits as well and combined with a healthy nutrition and exercise program, can greatly improve your life with diabetes.

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Benefits of Mounjaro

At Iowa Diabetes, we have been involved in many of the clinical trials with Mounjaro. Here’s what we have seen:

  • Weight loss: In one 40-week study, an average of 20 pounds weight loss was observed in the 15 mg dose group with some patients achieving even greater weight loss.
  • Hunger reduction
  • Greater A1C reduction than other medications: In one study, >87 % of participants on the study drug ended with an A1C less than 7 after 40 weeks. >50% on the 15mg dose achieved an A1C <5.7.
Summary Mounjaro has been shown to have greater reductions in A1C and weight loss compared to those GLP-1 alone medications. It has also been more effective in lowering A1C and weight loss when compared with basal insulin.

Disclaimer: Any information provided is not intended as medical advice. Iowa Diabetes is not responsible for any information from third parties.