Source: healthline.com
Mounjaro
Uses, Application, and Insights on Type 2 Diabetes Management
Diabetes has become one of the chronic conditions that affects the capacity of your body to turn glucose into energy. Many people have diabetes 1 and 2, and it is essential to control diabetes to avoid complications. One of the complications of diabetes 2 is obesity, and individuals look for diabetes drugs for weight loss on TV, social media, or from a friend. However, this can be serious, and instead, you should consult a professional or physician to help you control diabetes and obesity.Â
For people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, Mounjaro is a prescription injectable medication that patients can use with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar or glucose. Mounjaro for weight loss works differently than other type 2 diabetes medications by directly activating the GIP and GLP-1 pathways to help regulate blood sugar levels.
Type 2 Diabetes: Their Signs and Symptoms
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic, progressive disease which disturbs the body’s sugar levels, causing excessive sugar to circulate in the blood. High blood sugar levels can affect your circulatory, nervous, and immune systems.Â
Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, progresses slowly, and people with the disease can remain symptom-free for years. Among the disease’s warning signs and symptoms might be
- Thirst and hunger
- Frequent urinary tract infections
- Sudden weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Slow-healing wounds
Source: palacegatepractice.com
Eligibility for Zepbound Treatment
Mounjaro is a GPLP-1 analog, which combines with a GIP (short for glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) analog to induce its action. Patients receive this medication in the form of injections once a week. It works by activating GLP-1 and GIP receptors, increasing incretin levels in the body. These incretin hormones lower blood sugar by increasing the production of insulin in the body and by reducing the glucose produced by the liver.
Use Of Tirzeptide
Food And Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that Tirzepatide acts as an alternative to GLP-1 in addition to weight loss diet and exercise for treating type 2 diabetes in adults with a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or more and psychological or medical complications.
Doctors advise this medication to patients with type 2 diabetes, people with a BMI of less than 35 kg/m2, who are at risk of hypoglycemia due to insulin use, which affects their work, or people who struggle with obesity or weight-related health problems as a complication of the chronic condition. Tirzepatide is one of the best alternatives for diabetes drugs for weight loss, and doctors can conduct some assessments to assess whether it is the best treatment for you.
Mounjaro Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Research Results
In 2021, an estimation of 537 million people had diabetes worldwide, and about 96% of them have type 2 diabetes. In diabetes 2, the capacity of the pancreas to produce insulin reduces, and the body becomes resistant to insulin. Studies of Mounjaro for weight loss and the treatment of type 2 diabetes have shown an improvement in blood sugar control and weight loss when compared with other type 2 diabetes medications.Â
Besides, a study presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Sweden found that adults taking injectable tirzepatide instead of Ribelsus or daily insulin had the following outcomes:
- Within 4 weeks, the blood glucose levels were normal
- Hit a 5% weight loss goal in 12 instead of 24 weeks.
- It takes around 8 weeks to reach an A1C of less than 7%, compared to 12 weeks.
- It takes 12 weeks versus 16 to 24 weeks to achieve an A1C level of less than 6.5%.
How Does Mounjaro Work?
Mounjaro is a dual-acting GIP and GLP-1 that activates the body’s GIP and GLP-1 receptors as a single molecule and helps improve diabetes health in several ways. This diabetes drug for weight loss increases insulin production but reduces the risk of hypoglycemia only when blood sugar levels rise. It reduces the production of sugar in the liver. It significantly slows down the speed at which the stomach moves food into your intestines. It helps control blood sugar after a meal and makes you feel full. Patients take Mounjaro as an injection once a week, at any time of the day.
Clinical Trial Study of Mounjaro
Munjaro’s FDA approval is an analysis based on positive results from the phase 3 SURPASS program, which includes five clinical trials:
- SURPASS-1
- SURPASS-2
- SURPASS-3
- SURPASS-4
- SURPASS-5
In SURPASS-1, Mounjaro was studied as monotherapy. The study in SURPASS-2, SURPASS-3, and SURPASS-4 adds to standard diabetes medications such as metformin, sulfonylureas, and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. For SURPASS-5, the text evaluates in combination with basal insulin with or without metformin.
The SURPASS program evaluates the effectiveness of drugs using three-letter doses:
- 5 mg
- 10 mg
- 15 mg
Patients administer doses subcutaneously once weekly for comparison with Placebo (SURPASS-1), Semaglutide 1 mg (SURPASS-2), Insulin Degludec (SURPASS-3), and Insulin Glargine (SURPASS-4). The SURPASS-5 clinical trial balances the combination dose of basal insulin with or without metformin to placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes.
The mean blood sugar-lowering effect in patients with type 2 diabetes participating in the SURPASS program was 1.8% to 2.1% in the 5 mg Mounjaro group and 1.7% to 2, or 4% in the 15 mg and 10 mg group.Â
Mounjaro provides the greatest reduction in blood sugar when compared to all comparators in the SURPASS program. This diabetes drug for weight causes patients to lose significantly more weight, which is detectable in weight loss calories when compared to other comparator drugs. Patients who receive 5 mg of the test drug lose 12 pounds, while patients who receive 15 mg lose 25 pounds.
Dosage Of Mounjaro
Mounjaro comes in the form of a liquid solution in disposable pre-filled pens. Self-administer the dose by injection under the skin. The dosage of Mounjaro for adults includes:
- Doctors prescribe to take Mounjaro at 2.5 mg subcutaneously once per week as a beginning dosage. A patient can take a 2.5 mg dose to initiate treatment and may not intend to control blood sugar.
- After 4 weeks, there will be an increase in the dosage to 5 mg, injecting subcutaneously once weekly. If you require additional glycemic control, increase the current dose by 2.5 mg after at least 4 weeks.
- The maximum dose of Mounjaro is 15 mg subcutaneously once weekly. If a dose skips, instruct the patient to take Mounjaro as soon as possible, within 4 days (96 hours) of the missing dose.
- If more than 4 days have passed, skip the missing dosage and take the next dose on the specific day.
- In either case, patients can resume their normal once-a-week dosing schedule.
- If necessary, change the administration date every week, as long as there are at least 3 days (72 hours) between the two doses.
In children
There are not enough studies to showcase the safety and efficacy of the Mounjaro drug in children and adolescents (under 18 years). Hence, it is best not to recommend Mounjaro for children diagnosed with diabetes 2.Â
During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Before using Mounjaro for weight loss, let your doctor know if you are pregnant or want to get pregnant since it may damage the developing fetus. Mounjaro causes a delay in stomach emptying, and it may lessen the effectiveness of oral hormonal contraceptives.
Doctors recommend that women who use oral contraceptives transition to a non-oral method or add a barrier form of contraception for four weeks following the start of treatment and four weeks following each dose increase. Also, it is unknown if Mounjaro passes into breast milk, so consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
What If I Take An Overdose?
Contact a Poison Control Center to get an update on overdose recommendations. Appropriate supportive care must begin resting on the patient’s clinical signs and symptoms. Tirzepatide has a half-life of approximately 5 days, so observation and treatment for these symptoms may be necessary.
Storage And Handling
The process of storage and handling of Mounjaro for weight loss are as follows:
- Storing Mounjaro at 2 ℃ to 8 ° C (36 °F to 46 ° F) in the refrigerator.
- If necessary, store each with an excessive delivery pen up to 30 °C for up to 21 days.
- Do Not Freeze Mounjaro.
- Do not use Mounjaro if it is in freezing condition.
- Keep Mounjaro in its original carton to protect it from light.
Drugs Interaction With Mounjaro
Here is how Mounjaro interacts with other drugs:
- Concomitant use with insulin secretagogues (e.g., sulfonylureas) or insulin
When starting diabetes drugs for weight loss, such as Mounjaro, consider stopping the dose of concomitant insulin secretagogues (e.g., sulfonylureas) or insulin to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia.
- Oral medications
Mounjaro delays gastric emptying and may affect the absorption of concomitant oral medications. Patients must take caution when using Mounjaro for weight loss concurrently with oral medications.Â
When co-administering Mounjaro, monitor patients receiving oral medications and those with narrow therapeutic indices (e.g., warfarin) due to threshold concentrations.
What Are The Side Effects Of Mounjaro?
Mounjaro has its pros and cons. It is also important to know the shortcomings.
- Mild side effects
Minor side effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and constipation may occur. Get in touch with your healthcare practitioner if this continues.
- Serious Side Effects And Warnings
It is a rare but serious risk. It can put you at risk for thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, and gallbladder disease. Always be aware of these issues, and if symptoms occur, contact a medical facility as soon as possible.
Managing Type 2 Diabetes
While reducing your sugar and carbohydrate intake is important, managing diabetes isn’t as simple as cutting certain foods out of your weight loss diet or taking certain medications. Following are some weight loss tips for blood sugar management:
- Calories are important, but so is the quality of food. Ultra-process foods increase inflammation, alter gut microbes, and are low in fiber and micronutrients.
- Type 2 diabetes does not require a specific weight loss diet. Your dietician can teach you about carbohydrates and help you create an eating plan that you can follow.
- Consume fewer calories and cut down on refined carbohydrates.
- Reduce sugar intake and add fruits and vegetables to your diet to include more fiber.
- Low-carb diets can help control blood sugar levels, but they shouldn't be so low-carb that you sacrifice fiber. Fiber is essential for overall health.
- Steer clear of the weight-gain and weight-loss cycle. It is a time when blood sugar control and heart health deteriorate.
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) is essential. CGM devices help patients monitor blood sugar levels throughout the day and provide real-time data and trends. It is a weight loss cal, which also monitors obesity.
- Movement is important as it helps in burning calories. Physical activity is necessary to maintain or improve circulation and muscle mass.
- Try to exercise for 30 to 60 minutes each day. You can do any activity that gets your heart rate up, such as walking, cycling, or swimming. Combine this with strength training such as yoga or weight lifting.
- If you take medication to lower your blood sugar, you may need to include a light meal in your weight loss diet before exercise.
- The blood sugar level is not the only concern in diabetes. It can also affect the health of the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. Thus, lifestyle changes and weight loss tips are essential to cope with diabetes.
Track your Glucose Levels with Track Your Max Experts
Mounjaro is a prescription GLP-1 and GIP agonist which has FDA approval for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Doctors may prescribe Mounjaro for weight loss to help people who are suffering from type 2 diabetes and obesity. Most side effects of Mounjaro’s are mild and go away independently after a few days or weeks. However, some people may experience serious side effects from this drug. It is important to consult your doctor before starting Mounjaro weight loss treatment.Â
Track Your Max will help you get properly prescribed medications and lifestyle changes to maintain and monitor your blood sugar health. With Track Your Max, get an effective dual-action solution to manage type 2 diabetes and achieve weight loss. Our comprehensive metabolic weight loss diet and exercise plan, along with medical guidance, will help you regain your health and vitality. Visit our website today to curb your excessive glucose levels and live a healthy and complications-free life!
