Week 49: Of Mounjaro, Macallan, and Maybe Babies

Welcome back to another week of Mounjaro madness. Here, I chronicle my progress with this GLP-1 receptor agonist for Type 2 diabetes while taking potshots at whatever medical or legal targets drift into my line of sight. For those who stumbled in here from a Google search or a Reddit rabbit hole, I’m The Nittany Turkey—nom de plume for over two decades—usually squawking about Penn State football but lately redirected toward more personal topics, like staying alive and upright past the age of 78.

Turkey Who?

Permit me a brief reintroduction. I’m a fat old fart with Type 2 diabetes, formerly treated with Janumet, glipizide, metformin, and the usual alphabet soup of pharma fixes—though never insulin. In June 2024, I finally bit the Mounjaro bullet. Since then, I’ve lost 65 pounds (29.5 kilos if you’re on the metric team), brought my blood glucose under control, and ditched several other meds in the process.

But let’s be clear: man does not live by injectable peptide alone. I’ve also revamped my diet and exercise, with a current focus on preserving (and maybe even building) muscle. Rapid weight loss is great for your pancreas but not for your quads, especially if you’re old enough to write cursive and remember what a pay phone is. My iron-pumping regimen is now aimed squarely at thwarting sarcopenia before it turns me into a breakable relic.

Love’s Labor

This blog is a labor of kvetching. No ads, no sponsors, no “influencer” bullshit—just me, chronicling my aches, pains, and numbers. Think of it as your diabetic uncle ranting at the bingo hall, except with fewer suspenders and more trap bar deadlifts. And while I may occasionally sound like I’m giving advice, don’t be stupid—do your own research. Blindly following anything you read here is a fast track to finding out whether Medicare covers leech therapy. (And with RFK, Jr. running the HHS show, who knows?).

Before we get to my personal updates this week, let’s delve into a trending topic: surprise pregnancies associated with GLP-1 drugs. No, it’s not satire. Yet.

Mounjaro-Based Loaves in the Oven

Imagine this: you’re on Mounjaro (or its cousins Ozempic and Wegovy), the pounds are melting off, glucose is in check, and suddenly you find yourself crying over cat videos and craving pickles. Spoiler alert: it’s not the keto flu—it’s an unexpected pregnancy.

Yes, really. Reports are emerging of women becoming unexpectedly pregnant while on GLP-1 receptor agonists. In particular, women with PCOS or obesity-related infertility are suddenly finding their reproductive machinery back online, much to the surprise of their doctors—and themselves.

What gives?

Is it the weight loss? Possibly. Dropping excess pounds often normalizes ovulatory function, especially in women with insulin resistance. There’s ample evidence that even moderate weight loss can boost fertility. Hormonal balance returns, cycles regulate, and boom—baby registry time.

Or is it the drug? There’s another twist. GLP-1 agonists slow gastric emptying, which can interfere with oral contraceptive absorption. Your birth control pill might end up as effective as a raincoat in a hurricane.

Cue the irony: a drug class originally created for glucose control may be an unexpected player in fertility treatment. Some clinicians now proactively warn women of childbearing age about this side effect. Imagine that: Mounjaro might help with pregnancy and weight loss. Just don’t try both at the same time—animal studies have suggested fetal risk, so it’s recommended to stop the meds two months before trying to conceive.

Whatever the mechanism, the takeaway is clear: If you’re on a GLP-1 and think the stork no longer stops at your door, think again. Apparently, along with losing your spare tire, you might also be losing your contraceptive reliability.

This Week on Mounjaro

Now, to the personal side of this circus.

First, a milestone: I’ve found a replacement for my overpriced concierge doc, “Dr. DeLorean.” Enter: Dr. Macallan (named for the Highland single malt I can no longer afford—or drink). He and his wife run a direct primary care practice, and my interview with the good doctor revealed a straight-shooter who hasn’t yet succumbed to the bureaucratic bloat of modern medicine. I’ll hand DeLorean his walking papers after next week’s follow-up visit—likely with a few mumbled pleasantries and averted eyes.

Meanwhile, back at the gym… My supposedly okay left knee has been grumbling again. But oddly enough, after pushing through a deadlift session (40 reps, progressive weight), it felt better—not worse. Could it be that motion is lotion after all? I’ll take that up with the sports rehab doc later this month.

The Mounjaro Numbers, Already!

Body Weight: 181.4 lbs (82.5 kg) — stable
Fasting glucose: 97 mg/dl (5.4 mmol/L) — unchanged
Average glucose (Stelo biosensor): 119 (6.6 mmol/L) — still about 20 mg/dL higher than fingersticks, so: ploo! The Stelo, unlike its higher-priced, prescription-based cousin, the G7, does not permit calibration via glucometer readings, so I must apply a bias based on comparative readings.

Conclusion: Mounjaro, Pregnancies, and DeLorean Exit Plan

No, I’m not pregnant. But it’s fascinating to watch GLP-1 agonists morph into metabolic Swiss Army knives—handling everything from glucose and weight to kidneys, hearts, sleep apnea, and now…babies?

On the provider front, the DeLorean-to-Macallan transition is bittersweet. I’ll miss the warm towels and executive fees like I’d miss a rash. But with Macallan, I’m cautiously optimistic.

Next week: Blood test results are coming in hot, including a full panel to close out my honey experiment (Week 45 readers, you know the drill). I also started creatine again—because clearly, I needed something else to track obsessively. And of course, we’ll revisit the ongoing saga of my iron levels, because nothing says “living the dream” like talking ferritin while bench pressing.

As always, thanks for tuning in to this cranky old man’s metabolic monologue. Until next time, stay upright and mildly cynical.

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For an annotated catalog of all my Mounjaro updates, visit my Mounjaro Update Catalog page.