Exploring the Potential: Mounjaro for Insulin Resistance
June 30. 2023
If you are trying to lose weight and are insulin resistant, you already know that this quest is slightly more challenging for you than the average person. Why does that happen? Insulin resistance is a condition that presents different threats to your health; weight gain is one of them. Individuals with this condition can try different methods to improve their health, from diet and exercise to prescription medications. Can Mounjaro be a good choice for treating insulin resistance and achieving weight loss?
Mounjaro and Ozempic weight loss are type 2 diabetes medications that are used beyond their blood glucose control benefits. These drugs are also highly efficient in promoting weight loss. In 2021, Wegovy – a medication that mimics the same receptor agonist as Mounjaro and Ozempic – was launched as the first official and FDA-approved weight loss drug of this kind.
Can these diabetes and weight loss medications contribute to managing insulin resistance? In this article, we will explore what to expect on Mounjaro for insulin resistance and weight loss.
What is insulin resistance?
Insulin is one of the most important hormones in our bodies. The pancreas produces this hormone as a response when we have a meal or a snack. During digestion, the carbohydrates we consume become glucose (or sugar). This is the fuel our cells use to maintain our bodies healthy and functioning correctly. Insulin enables glucose to exit our bloodstream and enter our fat, muscle, and liver cells. The cells use glucose as energy, and our bodies store leftovers as fat for later use.
We could say that insulin works as the key that unlocks the cell’s door for sugar to exit the bloodstream. What happens when we have insulin resistance? Our cells become resistant to the insulin hormone, making it less effective. If glucose can’t enter the cells, it often results in the body not absorbing nutrients and lacking the energy it needs. Therefore, the pancreas starts producing insulin in more significant amounts each time we eat. As time passes, the cells become more tolerant to the hormone, which leads to the pancreas secreting more and more insulin.
What does it mean for your health?
Insulin resistance, also known as impaired insulin sensitivity, is a condition linked to many health complications. When our cells become resistant to insulin, our pancreas boosts insulin production, and at first, this work. The cells will obtain the energy they need. But as cells become more resistant, the pancreas cannot keep up. If the cells’ doors don’t open, glucose can not enter the cells, and the blood sugar levels in the bloodstream start increasing. High blood glucose levels are one of the dangerous side effects of insulin sensitivity that can lead to pre-diabetics or type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the source of different health conditions. Diabetes is the number one cause of blindness. That occurs when elevated blood glucose levels damage the blood vessels in the eyes. In a similar way, too much sugar in the bloodstream can harm or clog the delicate blood vessels in the kidney. That can lead to kidney failure, a condition with no cure. Type 2 diabetes can also cause skin conditions, slow healing, hearing problems, sleep apnea, and dementia. Diabetes can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication. Trulicity vs Mounjaro are two drugs that help reduce high blood glucose levels and weight gain produced by diabetes.
Insulin sensitivity can be a risk factor for developing obesity, coronary artery disease, Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome.
How insulin resistance affects your weight
Insulin resistance and weight gain are more deeply connected than you most people think. Because this condition can lead to weight gain, and excess weight can enhance insulin resistance symptoms. Gaining weight and the development of insulin sensitivity often happens at the same time. The more weight you gain, the more insulin resistance you have, and the more insulin sensitivity, the highest your insulin levels – which leads to excess weight. To bring some control to this vicious cycle, most people resort to diabetes medications or weight loss drugs such as Phentermine for weight loss.
How does the weight gain due to insulin resistance happens? In normal circumstances, when your insulin sensitivity works correctly, your pancreas releases insulin after you have a meal. The insulin helps glucose to enter the cells; increased insulin levels also signal the pancreas to store excess glucose. That excess sugar is stored as fat; your body uses it as fuel when you are sleeping or not eating, and it needs to produce energy. This balanced process changes when you have insulin sensitivity. Your cells stop responding to insulin, leading to high blood sugar and insulin levels – which promotes greater fat storage from the liver.
When your liver starts accumulating extra fat than it should, it also becomes resistant to insulin. Due to this, the liver releases more glucose not the bloodstream; as a response, the pancreas increases insulin levels to bring blood sugar levels back to normal. The elevated insulin levels cause more fat storage, and the cycle begins again.
Losing weight with insulin resistance
As you probably figured out already, losing weight with insulin resistance becomes a more challenging battle. While necessary, diet and exercise sometimes are not enough to shed away the extra pounds produced due to this condition. Most insulin-resistant people choose a weight loss clinic in Chicago to help them achieve weight loss. Counting on a professional healthcare provider by your side always makes the process easier. These are some ways to enhance weight loss if you are insulin resistant:
- Incorporate healthy foods into your diet: eating healthy will not only help you reduce your daily calorie intake, but it will also help with blood glucose control. How many and what type of carbohydrates you consume is the key to managing blood sugar levels and achieving weight loss. A low-calorie diet is a must; finding the right meal plan for you will make all the difference. A nutritionist can craft a personalized plan for you and guide you on which foods to include and Mounjaro foods to avoid. You will want to stay away from highly processed foods and trans fats. Simple carbs, like the ones in cookies and cakes, are also bad for this condition. Products with added sugar have a high glycemic index which can trigger glucose level spikes. Instead, you must consume more fiber and lean proteins.
- Exercise regularly: inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle are two of the main factors to develop insulin resistance. Not enough physical activity can also lead to weight gain. The best exercise for this condition is a mix of resistance training (or weight lifting) and aerobic exercise. Walking, running, biking, or swimming are excellent aerobic activities you can do. Weight training will help you grow muscle; muscle acts as storage for excess blood sugar.
- Monitor glucose levels: each body reacts to food differently. You can use a glycemic control tool to determine how your body responds to specific foods. That will help you know what to include or remove from your diet.
- Medical weight loss program: as mentioned, many people with insulin resistance decide to opt for a medical weight loss treatment. Some weight loss medications are also efficient for blood sugar management, making them the ideal option for people with insulin sensitivity.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is a type 2 diabetes mellitus medication that helps diabetic individuals return to average blood sugar levels. People with diabetes can’t produce or use insulin like they suppose to. This leads to high glucose levels that causes different health conditions (like the ones we mentioned above). Individuals with type 2 diabetes need to commit to healthy lifestyle changes to take care of their health. Besides those changes, resorting to medication or automated insulin delivery systems is often necessary. Mounjaro is one of the most efficient drugs in the market to tackle high glucose levels.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro’s active ingredient) works as two GLP receptor agonists: glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GIP and GLP-1 are hormones that regulate glucose and insulin secretion from the liver and pancreas, respectively. Their effect ensures glucose and insulin levels remain at safe amounts. Besides that, one of Mounjaro’s side effects is weight management. The effect of the receptor agonists in our bodies also acts as an appetite suppressant that promotes weight loss.
Mounjaro is one of the only medications of its kind that mimics two receptor agonists. Due to this double effect, this drug promotes a higher body weight reduction than almost any other medication. This is one of the main reasons for people switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro. While both medications are highly efficient for weight loss, with Mounjaro, most patients achieve an average of 22.5% body weight loss.
Can you use Mounjaro for insulin resistance?
Insulin resistance is a dangerous condition that can lead to type 2 diabetes. Because of this, the best is to treat it as soon as possible before it becomes more serious. Since Mounjaro got FDA approval in 2022, many people have been wondering if they can use this drug to control insulin sensitivity.
While more studies are to be made, evidence gathered so far points out that Mounjaro could work as a treatment for insulin resistance. During semaglutide (Ozempic) SUSTAIN 1-3 clinical trials, results suggest that this drug would decrease insulin secretion. However, Mounjaro and Ozempic can’t yet be prescribed for insulin resistance, but a healthcare provider can prescribe them off-label for diabetes or weight loss.
The most significant advantage of using Mounjaro for insulin resistance is that, besides lowering blood sugar levels, it promotes weight loss. As you read above, weight gain and insulin sensitivity are intertwined in a deep loop. Losing excess weight is treating one of insulin resistance’s most common symptoms. And at the same time, by reaching a healthy weight, you prevent further development of insulin resistance.
How to use Mounjaro for weight loss and insulin resistance?
Using Mounjaro for weight loss or insulin resistance purposes works the same way as when using it to treat diabetes. You must consult with a professional healthcare provider before taking this medication. Your doctor will guide you through the process and answer all your question regarding side effects, the best place to inject Mounjaro for weight loss, and other common doubts.
You will start with the lowest possible dose for about a month; then, your healthcare provider will gradually increase it until reaching a higher dosage. That gives your body a chance to adapt to the medication and have a better tolerance to side effects. Some of the common adverse effects of Mounajro include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
Those side effects usually appear after you have your shot each week. There are certain foods you can avoid to lessen the symptoms, such as unhealthy fatty foods; Mounjaro and alcohol can also increase the side effects.
How Mounjaro injections work
This diabetes medication only comes in subcutaneous injectable pens. Mounjaro injections are easy to use and relatively painless – you can apply the shot yourself. The most important thing to remember is that you must give yourself the injection on the same day of the week each time. That will guarantee the medication’s full effectiveness. Finding your personal best time of day to take Mounjaro will make the process more comfortable. If you ever miss a dose, you can take it up to 4 days after the missing dosage. If more than four days went by, skip it and take the next one as you would normally do.
Final thoughts
Everything seems to point out that Mounjaro is also suitable for treating insulin resistance besides promoting weight loss. When paired with a healthy diet and regular exercise, this medication will help you lose excess fat developed due to insulin resistance. And at the same time, weight loss will prevent the condition from developing further. Do you want to learn more about how to lose weight when having insulin resistance? Schedule a call with our team; we’re here to help you.
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