Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) for Diabetes Management
Mounjaro is a GLP-1/GIP medication – the first of its kind – that can help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar and body weight.
In May 2022, the FDA approved Mounjaro (also known as tirzepatide) for type 2 diabetes management, in addition to diet and exercise. Developed by Eli Lilly, this first-in-class medication has been shown to improve glucose levels and cause weight loss.
Seeing the extraordinary impacts that tirzepatide was having on weight, the FDA approved the medication under the brand name Zepbound for people with overweight or obesity in 2023.
Learn more about Mounjaro and what it means for people with diabetes.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is a once-weekly injectable medication. It’s a new type of glucose-lowering therapy called a dual agonist or GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, the first of its kind to be approved by the FDA.
It’s similar to GLP-1 medications and has been shown to lower blood sugar levels, help with weight management, and lower the risk of heart and kidney disease. This medication is designed to help mimic both GIP and GLP-1, two hormones the body makes that are normally released with meals.
Mounjaro is approved for different doses: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg. Healthcare professionals may adjust the dose depending on the person’s response to the medication and health goals.
How does Mounjaro cost?
In the U.S., Mounjaro isn’t cheap – the list price is $1,000 or more per month. But the good news is, many insurance plans cover Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, including Medicare and Medicaid. Coverage is not as broad when prescribed as Zepbound for weight management. For qualifying people, Lilly offers a Mounjaro savings card that can reduce costs to as little as $25 per month out-of-pocket (the savings card is not available to those on Medicaid and Medicare).
What does the research on Mounjaro show?
The research on Mounjaro has been overwhelmingly positive. The medication has been studied in numerous clinical trials, most notably the SURPASS trials, which showed that Mounjaro was safe and effective for A1C and weight loss.
Mounjaro led to an average 2% A1C reduction across all SURPASS trials. All groups taking the 15 mg dose had an average A1C below 6%. At the highest dose of 15 mg, Mounjaro lowered trial participants’ A1C on average by:
- 1.6% when used as a stand-alone therapy
- 1.5%when used in combination with a long-acting insulin
- 0.5 % more than semaglutide (Ozempic)
- 0.9% more than insulin degludec
- 1.0% more than insulin glargine
In addition, Mounjaro helped trial participants lose:
- 23 pounds when used with insulin
- 12 pounds more than semaglutide
- 29 pounds more than insulin degludec
- 27 pounds more than insulin glargine
Though GLP-1s like Mounjaro are now considered a standard of care for people with diabetes, it’s often prescribed after other, less expensive options have proven unsuccessful.
However, new research presented at ATTD 2026 shows it may be a good idea to start Mounjaro earlier in people with type 2 diabetes. A recent study compared Mounjaro to other treatment options for people with type 2 who didn’t see success with metformin and were within four years of diagnosis. After two years of treatment, 69% of people who started Mounjaro had A1C values below 5.7%, and 49% lost at least 15% of their body weight. In contrast, only 27% of people who tried other treatment options reached that A1C value, and 13% experienced that much weight loss.
This study suggests that starting Mounjaro right away, rather than waiting until other treatment options have been exhausted, may be a good option for many people with type 2 diabetes trying to manage their blood sugar and body weight.
Does Mounjaro have side effects?
Mounjaro has been shown to have similar side effects to other GLP-1s, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, constipation, upper abdominal discomfort, and abdominal pain in some people who take it.
Who can be prescribed Mounjaro?
At this time, Mounjaro is approved for people with type 2 diabetes ages 10 and older, as an addition to diet and exercise. Mounjaro is not currently approved for people with type 1 diabetes, but it has been shown to be effective for managing blood sugar and weight in people with type 1 in ongoing clinical trials.
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