GLP-1s Can Reverse Prediabetes for 95 Percent of Us and Deliver Big Weight-Loss Results for Women
One woman used Zepbound to lose 55 lbs. while erasing pain, fatigue and blood-sugar issues
An astonishing fact about the GLP-1 meds that are helping millions lose weight: Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound, has the power to stop prediabetes in its tracks for 99 percent of us, per a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. Though the effect rarely makes headlines, it could prevent devastating diabetes-related health problems for millions, says Louis J. Aronne, MD, who was part of the research team.
“I recently spoke at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, and I joked they’ll have to switch to ‘Study of Prediabetes,’” says Dr. Aronne, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine. “There’s not gonna be many people with diabetes left.” Keep reading for the latest on the life-changing—and life-saving—benefits of GLP-1s for prediabetes.
What exactly are GLP-1 drugs?
Mounjaro and Zepbound, along with Ozempic and Wegovy, are part of a new wave of prescription injectable diabetes and obesity medications that mimic the hormone GLP-1, keeping levels up to 1,000 times higher than normal. This leads to radically reduced hunger and improved blood sugar control, says Dr. Aronne, which makes weight management far easier. So it’s no surprise that among the many benefits of GLP-1 drugs, rapid weight loss gets virtually all the hype. But that may soon change.
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GLP-1 weight loss and health benefits for nondiabetics
Dr. Aronne has been part of multiple studies on GLP-1s, including the SURMOUNT-1 trial designed to see how well combining lifestyle changes and tirzepatide works in people on the verge of diabetes. The results? Over 176 weeks, those getting coaching and taking 15 mg of tirzepatide lost 19.7 percent of their body weight, 99 percent stayed diabetes-free and 95 percent reverted to normal blood sugar. Those given coaching and a placebo lost just 1.3 percent and 13 percent developed diabetes.
“It’s an unbelievable potential benefit because so many severe diseases [like cardiovascular disease, liver disease and chronic kidney disease] are associated with diabetes,” says Dr. Aronne. It can spare people the pain of diabetic neuropathy and diabetes-related vision problems. Dr. Aronne notes that diabetes is also a leading cause of amputation.
And while not specifically related to diabetes, in a new study in JAMA Oncology on more than 43,000 people, GLP-1 users were 17 percent less likely to get any cancer and women were 47 percent less likely to develop ovarian cancer.
Can GLP-1s cure tiredness too?
They might! For many, a lifetime of roller-coaster blood sugar levels causes the hormone insulin to stay chronically high. “What we think may be happening is that high insulin traps calories in fat cells,” says Dr. Aronne. That leaves us essentially starved for fuel. But as GLP-1s improve blood sugar, insulin drops, “and we’re able to mobilize those calories.” It means more fuel and energy. “People often say they’ve never felt better.’”
Women may lose more weight than men
Dr. Aronne notes that tirzepatide in Zepbound and Mounjaro works on GLP-1 plus an extra hormone called GIP, making it more potent than the semaglutide in Wegovy and Ozempic. But women don’t need to worry about that, because (for once!) we have a slimming advantage.
In one large trial, “women on Zepbound lost 23 percent of their body weight while men lost 18 percent,” says Dr. Aronne. And in a separate finding, “with Wegovy, women lost 18 percent and men 11 percent.” In other words, both drugs are incredibly effective for women, so your doctor can prescribe whichever you can get at the best price.
Why GLP-1 costs should drop in the future
GLP-1 drugs are often not covered by insurance for either prediabetes or weight loss, and cost $499 a month out of pocket. Dr. Aronne says that as studies continue to show their impact on weight-related conditions like diabetes and heart disease, “it’s just a matter of time until insurance companies make changes.” Plus, he says a GLP-1 pill on the horizon should make GLP-1s cheaper to distribute.
Are GLP-1s worth it in the meantime? Talk to your doctor, of course. But women like Laurie Bono, 58, say the answer is a resounding yes. “Knowing how good I feel now,” she says, “I’d be willing to work three jobs to pay for these meds.”
GLP-1 success: Laurie Bono reversed her prediabetes
Just two years ago, Laurie was in so much pain, “I wanted to cry every day as I got out of bed,” shares the Boston-area customer service manager. Testing revealed she had prediabetes and inflammation throughout her body.
She was told losing weight was key. Since diets had stopped working for her after menopause, she asked about GLP-1s. “The process took awhile, but once I started, I felt a difference right away. I suddenly had to plan to eat, otherwise I’d forget.” She shed 14 pounds that month.
Laurie began meeting with a nutritionist, determined to form habits that’d keep her weight healthy if she could no longer afford the meds. “I started emphasizing protein, but I never gave up carbs,” she says.
She lost 55 pounds on a GLP-1
As her pain and a lifetime of tiredness began to lift, she added three weekly strength-training classes to help prevent muscle loss. “I can’t believe how much I love it,” she shared. As she got physically stronger, she says her mood improved and she became mentally stronger too.
Laurie steadily lost 55 pounds and feels reborn. Her prediabetes is long gone. She’s looking forward to a happy, active future. “I’ve done a lot of great things in my life, having my children being number one, but taking Zepbound is right up there,” she laughs. “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever decided to do. I feel amazing!”
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