CHICAGO, IL — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says he has lost 80 pounds since spring 2024 with help from a GLP-1 medication, along with exercise and diet. He first learned he had prediabetes, and later Type 2 diabetes, before starting insulin and eventually an unnamed GLP-1 drug.
Pritzker said his blood sugar is now normal and that he stopped taking insulin nine months ago. He also said he intends to keep losing weight. His comments have drawn attention to a class of drugs that is increasingly familiar to many Americans, especially those managing diabetes or obesity-related health conditions.
What GLP-1 medications do for blood sugar and weight
GLP-1s, or GLP-1 receptor agonists, are medicines mainly used to help control blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Health systems such as Cleveland Clinic say some of these drugs can also support weight loss and are approved for obesity treatment in certain cases.
Better-known brand names include Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound. Medical groups including Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic note that the medications work by affecting appetite and blood sugar regulation, though they also stress that patients should understand both the benefits and the risks before starting treatment.
Pritzker said he decided to speak publicly about his experience in part because millions of Americans face obesity-related health problems. He also said he is focused on his third-term reelection bid in November.
Who may qualify for a prescription under FDA guidance
Eligibility for GLP-1s usually depends on age, body mass index and other health conditions. In general, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves these medications for adults 18 and older with a BMI of 30 or higher.
People with a BMI of 27 or higher may also qualify if they have a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, sleep apnea or polycystic ovary syndrome, according to Walgreens. People in that range may also be eligible if they are prediabetic or have had a heart attack, stroke or blocked arteries in the legs or arms with symptoms.
Cleveland Clinic says clinicians may also prescribe GLP-1s for patients who are overweight when weight loss can help manage other health problems. Mayo Clinic notes that body-mass guidelines can vary by group, including different risk thresholds for Asian adults.
Insurance coverage depends on the condition being treated
Whether a GLP-1 is covered often comes down to the diagnosis and the insurance plan. Many insurers cover the drugs for Type 2 diabetes, but most do not pay for them when they are prescribed for weight loss alone.
Coverage can also differ by state and by employer plan. In Illinois, eligible state workers have coverage, and the state expanded that benefit in July 2023 under its group health insurance program. The expansion added weight-loss coverage to a benefit that had already included diabetes treatment.
The state says people in the program with prediabetes, gestational diabetes or obesity can qualify if their physician considers the medicine medically appropriate, and they must take part in a lifestyle management program.
Illinois’ expanded benefit has drawn praise and criticism
Illinois officials said the expanded coverage cost $147 million in fiscal year 2025. The expense has drawn criticism, but state leaders argue that the long-term payoff could be lower rates of expensive chronic illness.
Cathy Kwiatkowski, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, said the goal is to give more people a chance to reduce long-term health problems by covering injectable weight-loss drugs in state plans. That position reflects the broader debate over whether these medications should be treated as a preventive health investment or a costly benefit.
Illinois Medicaid does cover GLP-1s for people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, but not for weight loss. That distinction leaves many patients and families trying to understand which program rules apply to them.
Price, side effects and warnings about unapproved products
If insurance does not cover the medication, patients may need to pay out of pocket. Prices can vary widely, and monthly costs depend on the product, dosage and where it is purchased.
Novo Nordisk lists Ozempic pens and pills at $1,027.51, while its Wegovy pill is offered for $149 to $299 a month and its injectable pen can cost up to $399 a month. Eli Lilly says Zepbound runs from $299 to $449 monthly, depending on dosage. Weight Watchers also offers an online calculator that estimates costs using a person’s height, weight, insurer and medication type.
Doctors and pharmacists warn that GLP-1s can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and acid reflux. Mayo Clinic and Kaiser Permanente also caution against use in people with certain thyroid cancers, some endocrine tumors, disordered eating histories, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Because demand has surged, state and federal officials have also warned about unapproved or compounded versions sold through med spas, wellness centers, online retailers and social media. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has urged consumers to use licensed pharmacies and legitimate prescriptions, while the FDA warns against sellers advertising steep discounts or skipping doctor screening.
Poison control centers are seeing more calls as use grows
Interest in GLP-1s has risen sharply. A Gallup survey released this summer found that about 11% of U.S. adults, or nearly 30 million people, are taking them for weight loss, up from 3% in 2024.
With that growth has come more misuse, overdoses and reports involving unapproved products. NBC Chicago reported in August that calls to Illinois poison centers for overdoses or side effects from injectable weight-loss drugs more than doubled in one year. Nationwide, poison centers have seen a nearly 1,500% increase in such calls since 2019.
Health experts say anyone considering a GLP-1 should talk with a medical professional first, and concerns about product quality can be reported through the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.