Welcome back for another weekly update, where I share my personal progress and dish out news and opinions about GLP-1 drugs. This week, we’ll dive into an exciting new discovery from Eli Lilly that’s grabbing headlines and making investors dance in the streets. I’ll also recap my roller coaster week, including updates from the honey experiment I kicked off last week.
If you’re new here, I’m a 78-year-old guy who has been on Mounjaro (tirzepatide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist) for ten months. During that time, I’ve managed to lower my HbA1c to 5.4% (36 mmol/mol) and shed 65 pounds (29.5 kg). Now on a 7.5 mg dose, my focus has shifted to muscle preservation and maintenance rather than just weight loss. Remember, losing weight at the expense of muscle isn’t exactly a victory—it often means replacing valuable muscle with fatty infiltrates, turning your limbs into something resembling Wagyu beef. My secondary goal is to hop off the GLP-1 train by year’s end. We’ll see…
Unnecessary Disclaimers
Who would take advice from me, anyway? Well, if you do, it’s entirely at your own risk. I’m neither a doctor nor a physical therapist. While I’ll share what works for me therapeutically, it’s purely informational. As they say, one man’s meat is another man’s poison. Feel free to leave your comments—YouTube cliché alert!—below.
All Hail the New GLP-1 Pill!
Well, folks, there’s a hot new drug in town. Surprise, surprise, it’s another GLP-1 receptor agonist from our friends at Eli Lilly, but this time, it’s a pill! Because who doesn’t like the idea of a magical weight-loss pill taken daily, especially those who cringe at needles?
Here’s the Hard News
Eli Lilly’s latest innovation is orforglipron, a once-daily oral medication for managing Type 2 diabetes and promoting weight loss. This small-molecule, non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist offers an attractive needle-free alternative to injectables like Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic (semaglutide).
In the Phase 3 ACHIEVE-1 trial, orforglipron showed impressive efficacy. Patients experienced HbA1c reductions between 1.3% and 1.6%, compared to a negligible 0.1% with a placebo. Those on the highest dose (36 mg) lost about 16 pounds (7.3 kg), equivalent to roughly 7.9% of their body weight over 40 weeks. Moreover, over 65% of these patients reached an HbA1c less than 6.5% (47.5 mmol/mol), aligning with American Diabetes Association standards.
Side effects? Nothing unexpected for GLP-1 therapies—mostly gastrointestinal issues like nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, and constipation. About 8% of participants at the highest dosage discontinued treatment due to these effects, compared to just 1% in the placebo group. Lilly plans to submit orforglipron to the FDA for weight management approval by late 2025 and for diabetes treatment by 2026.
And Now, My Comments
Sure, Lilly’s latest wonder pill has Wall Street jubilant, and diabetics—particularly needle-phobics—have good reason to cautiously celebrate. Fewer needles is always nice, right?
However, let’s be clear: Lilly’s marketing team is undoubtedly salivating at the thought of tapping into the lucrative weight-loss market. Officially aimed at Type 2 diabetes, it’s pretty obvious they’re eyeing the much larger group of folks eager for a miracle weight-loss solution.
Will orforglipron replace insulin completely? Don’t bet on it. Insulin’s role isn’t diminishing anytime soon, though fewer needles are always a welcome development.
At What Cost?
Now, the elephant in the pharmacy aisle: the price. Lilly hasn’t yet disclosed specifics, but we know the game—expect sticker shock, insurance squabbles, and outraged letters to Medicare. Innovation doesn’t come cheap—just ask pharma CEOs shopping for their next yacht.
What’s truly maddening is how quickly these diabetic drugs become trendy among folks whose biggest diabetic risk is their daily doughnut binge. Thanks to influencers and wellness gurus, this pill will likely become another fashionable health accessory, even for people whose greatest health challenge is squeezing into last year’s jeans.
A Transformative Drug?
Putting cynicism aside momentarily (which isn’t easy for me), oral GLP-1 therapies could genuinely revolutionize diabetes management, especially for those struggling with adherence and complications like obesity or fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Let’s hope Lilly keeps its eye on genuine patient needs and doesn’t just chase profits.
As this unfolds, remember the golden rule: no pill replaces the tried-and-true methods of diet, exercise, and consistent medical oversight. Sure, it’s dull advice, but boring often works—just ask anyone who has successfully managed diabetes over decades.
Stay tuned, fellow cynics and realists—this promises to be an entertaining ride, if nothing else.
My Week on Mounjaro
Easter week: let there be food! Despite staying mostly disciplined, I succumbed to a delightful pig-out session on Easter Sunday. The young folks created a kid-friendly buffet featuring traditional Easter hamburgers, hot dogs (with Wonder Bread buns), Doritos, and carrot cake. Jenny and I brought a healthier cucumber salad, which, unsurprisingly, remained largely untouched. My glucose graph, courtesy of my erratic Stelo biosensor, ended up resembling the Leap-The-Dips roller coaster at Lakemont Park in Altoona, PA (bonus trivia, folks!).
Outside Easter, Jenny and I enjoyed our usual Thursday lunch, opting for a neighborhood Greek restaurant. Thankfully, I stayed disciplined, choosing snapper filet on a bed of tasty spinach while politely declining the persistent waitress’s offers of rice and lima beans.
You might recall my honey experiment, where I’m testing a YouTube health guru’s claim about honey’s beneficial effects on blood lipids and insulin resistance. So far, my Stelo device consistently shows glucose spikes an hour after each daily tablespoon. I’ll have my blood tested at the month’s end to gauge the impact. For more details, check out last week’s column.
And Now, My Mounjaro Numbers
After my Easter indulgences and honey trials, my fasting glucose remained reasonably steady at 96 mg/dL (5.33 mmol/L), though I’m aiming for below 90 mg/dL (5 mmol/L). My average glucose this week was slightly higher at 106 mg/dL (5.89 mmol/L). My weight dropped a pound (0.5 kg), likely due to a brief encounter with Montezuma’s revenge toward week’s end.
And That’s It for This Week on Mounjaro
Thanks for joining me for another update. Together, we’ll continue monitoring Eli Lilly’s oral GLP-1 developments and their stock’s ups and downs. Feel free to comment with questions or topic suggestions for future columns.
Stay healthy!
For an annotated catalog of all my Mounjaro updates, please visit my Mounjaro Update Catalog page.
