Key Takeaways
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is the first dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for both type 2 diabetes management and chronic weight management.
- In SURPASS clinical trials, roughly two-thirds of patients reduced HbA1c below 6.5%, and one-third to one-half achieved normoglycemia (<5.7%) while on therapy.
- You do not need diabetes to qualify for tirzepatide for weight loss (BMI 30+, or BMI 27+ with a weight-related condition), while type 1 diabetes requires specialist insulin management.
While millions of adults know tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for weight management, the medication was originally developed — and approved in May 2022 — to treat type 2 diabetes (1,7). In the landmark SURPASS clinical trial program, approximately two-thirds of patients lowered their HbA1c below the 6.5% diabetes threshold while losing substantial body weight (2).
How does tirzepatide regulate blood sugar?
Tirzepatide is the first dual agonist activating both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors (1,9):
- Stimulates glucose-dependent insulin release from the pancreas when blood sugar rises
- Suppresses excess glucagon, preventing the liver from releasing unnecessary glucose
- Slows gastric emptying, smoothing out post-meal blood glucose spikes
- Reduces central appetite, addressing the visceral adiposity closely linked to insulin resistance (3)
Can Mounjaro put type 2 diabetes into remission — or cause low blood sugar?
While medication alone does not permanently “cure” diabetes, losing significant weight alongside nutrition and exercise can help put type 2 diabetes into clinical remission (4). In SURPASS-1, one-third to one-half of participants achieved a normal, non-diabetic HbA1c (<5.7%) during treatment (5).
Tirzepatide does not cause diabetes, and because its insulin stimulation is glucose-dependent, hypoglycemia risk on tirzepatide alone is low. However, hypoglycemia can occur when tirzepatide is combined with insulin or sulfonylureas, so your prescriber may adjust those doses when starting therapy (6).
Who is eligible to take tirzepatide?
- Non-diabetic & prediabetic adults: Eligible for weight management at BMI 30+, or BMI 27+ with at least one weight-related comorbidity such as prediabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, or cardiovascular disease.
- Adults with type 2 diabetes: Eligible both for glycemic control and for weight management starting at BMI 27+.
- Adults with type 1 diabetes: Tirzepatide is not a replacement for insulin and is not licensed for type 1 diabetes (8); never alter insulin dosing without specialist endocrinology supervision.
References
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) prescribing information. 2026.
- Bergman BK, Rosenstock J, Garvey WT, et al. Time spent in glycaemic control with sustained body weight reduction with tirzepatide: SURPASS post-hoc analysis. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2025.
- Yashi K, Daley SF. Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. StatPearls.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Prevention Program. 2025.
- Rosenstock J, et al. Efficacy and safety of dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide in type 2 diabetes (SURPASS-1). Lancet. 2021;398:143–155.
- Mews K, Momchilovich D. Management of Hypoglycemia Using CGM During Tirzepatide Initiation. Diabetes Spectrum. 2025;38:525–528.
- Drugs.com. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Approval History.
- American Diabetes Association. Insulin basics & type 1 diabetes care.
- Eli Lilly. What is Mounjaro (tirzepatide).
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