What does Mounjaro do for diabetes?
You probably already know that Mounjaro is a licensed treatment to support weight loss and maintenance in adults in the UK, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise. However, you may not be aware that Tirzepatide, which is the active ingredient in Mounjaro, can also be used to help manage type 2 diabetes (1). In fact, in the main Mounjaro trials, about two-thirds of almost all patients got their HbA1c down below the diabetes target (<6.5%) while taking the medication (2).
How does Mounjaro work as a diabetes treatment?
Mounjaro works by activating two hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1, which help to regulate blood sugar. They do this by:
Helping your body release more insulin when blood glucose levels are high, lowering the amount of sugar in your blood.
Reducing glucagon, which is a hormone that can raise blood sugar.
Slowing digestion, which helps to reduce the rise in blood sugar after meals.
Mounjaro can also reduce your appetite and overall food intake, which can support your weight loss goals (1). This is important since we know that there is a direct link between obesity and type 2 diabetes (3).
Can Mounjaro reverse diabetes?
Not exactly, no. Mounjaro as a medicine cannot reverse diabetes. However, it can help you to get better control over your blood sugar levels, and when combined with lifestyle changes such as better nutrition and regular exercise, help you lose enough weight to put type 2 diabetes into remission (4).
Remission means that blood glucose levels return to a non-diabetic range without diabetes medication for a period of time. Diabetes can return, particularly if weight is regained (4). However, there is clinical evidence showing that one-third to one-half of people taking Mounjaro managed to get their HbA1c into the normal, non-diabetic range (<5.7%) while on treatment, demonstrating that remission is a viable goal (5).
Can Mounjaro cause diabetes?
No, there is no clinical evidence to suggest that Mounjaro can cause diabetes. However, low blood sugar, also called hypoglycaemia, can occur when Mounjaro is taken alongside some medications, such as insulin (6). You should always tell your prescribing clinician about any medications you are taking, before starting Mounjaro.
How long has Mounjaro been used for diabetes?
Mounjaro has been used to treat type 2 diabetes since May 2022, when it first received regulatory approval (7).
Who can take Mounjaro?
To be eligible for a private prescription for Mounjaro, you must meet specific eligibility criteria.
A body mass index 30+ with no co-morbidities
A body mass index of 27+ with at least one weight-related health condition, such as:
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Heart disease or heart problems
Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes
Find out more about who can take Mounjaro in our helpful blog.
Can type 1 diabetics take Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is licensed to treat type 2 diabetes and is not a treatment for type 1. People who are type 1 diabetic need to take insulin to manage their condition (8). Mounjaro is not a replacement for insulin.
In some circumstances, a clinician may consider Tirzepatide for a person with type 1 diabetes for weight management. However, they would require careful assessment and monitoring and should not reduce or stop taking their insulin without advice from their diabetes care team.
Can type 2 diabetics take Mounjaro?
Yes, Mounjaro is a treatment licensed specifically to treat type 2 diabetes. It is the first and only approved type 2 diabetes medicine of its kind (activating the receptors of two key hormones to help lower blood sugar levels) (9).
Can you get Mounjaro if you are prediabetic?
Yes, you may be able to get Mounjaro if you are prediabetic, so long as you meet the other eligibility criteria listed above. However, you cannot be prescribed Mounjaro for being prediabetic alone.
Can a nondiabetic take Mounjaro?
You don’t have to have diabetes to take Mounjaro, but it is one of the listed comorbidities that could make you eligible for treatment. Other weight-related health conditions that could make you a good candidate for Mounjaro (if you also have a BMI of 27 or above) include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart problems.
Should diabetics use Mounjaro for weight loss?
There is good clinical evidence to show that taking Mounjaro could help people with type 2 diabetes to lose weight, and this in turn may have a positive impact on how well they can control their blood sugar levels (2).
Do you have to be diabetic to get Mounjaro?
No, you don’t have to be diabetic to get Mounjaro, but type 2 diabetes is one of the listed comorbidities that could make you eligible for weight loss treatment if your BMI is 27 or above. Read the full list of eligibility criteria.
References
NHS website. Tirzepatide [Internet]. nhs.uk. 2026 [cited 2026 Sept 10]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tirzepatide/
Bergman BK, Rosenstock J, Garvey WT, Batterham RL, Chen Y, Liu M, et al. Time spent in glycaemic control with sustained body weight reduction with tirzepatide: A post hoc analysis of the <scp>SURPASS</scp> clinical trial programme. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. 2025 Mar 13;. [cited 2026 Sept 10] Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12046485/
Yashi K, Daley SF. Obesity and type 2 diabetes [Internet]. PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 [cited 2026 Sept 10]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK592412/
England N. NHS England » NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme [Internet]. England.nhs.uk. 2025 [cited 2026 Sept 10]. Available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/diabetes/treatment-care/diabetes-remission/
Rosenstock J, Wysham C, Frías JP, Kaneko S, Lee CJ, Fernández Landó L, et al. Efficacy and safety of a novel dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide in patients with type 2 diabetes (SURPASS-1): a double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial [Internet]. Vol. 398, Lancet (London, England). England; 2021 [cited 2026 Sept 10]. p. 143–55. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34186022/
Mews K, Momchilovich D. Management of Hypoglycemia Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring During Tirzepatide Initiation or Uptitration When Used in Addition to Other Glucose-Lowering Agents [Internet]. Vol. 38, Diabetes spectrum: a publication of the American Diabetes Association. United States; 2025 [cited 2026 Sept 10]. p. 525–8. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41257224/
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) FDA Approval History [Internet]. Drugs.com. [cited 2026 Sept 10]. Available from: https://www.drugs.com/history/mounjaro.html
NHS. Insulin for type 1 diabetes [Internet]. nhs.uk. NHS; 2023 [cited 2026 Sept 10]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/insulin/insulin-for-type-1-diabetes/
What is Mounjaro® for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes | Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) [Internet]. mounjaro.lilly.com. [cited 2026 Sept 10]. Available from: https://mounjaro.lilly.com/what-is-mounjaro