It may surprise some people, but I have always paid attention to my health despite being overweight for most of my life.
When I go to the doctor for my annual physical, I get my blood tested regularly and look closely at the results. Fortunately I’ve never had any real issues. But two years ago when I had my routine blood test, I got a different result. I learned my glucose levels had crept up into diabetic levels. My doctor said I’d probably be on insulin for the rest of my life.
Hearing that news was startling because I knew what was at stake. My father had been overweight. He had high triglycerides, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. When he was just 39, he died of a heart attack. My mother was with him, and she held him in her arms until he passed. She was then confronted with the awful task of telling my siblings and me what had happened. She helped us through our loss while she was trying to overcome her own grief. Alcoholism afflicted her over the next decade, and she too passed away at age 49. Losing my parents when I was young changed the trajectory of my family and gave me a heightened focus on longevity.
To my siblings and me, my father’s heart attack at such a young age already meant we had an elevated risk of heart disease. And diabetes doubles that risk. So at age 59 when I saw that my glucose had reached diabetic level, I knew I needed to figure out how to overcome this threat. The only thing that mattered was protecting my time with MK and our kids.
Over the years, it seems like I’ve tried every diet and exercise regime. I’d lose weight, but then I’d gain it back over time. It’s been a frustrating rollercoaster. I always felt like I should do better. I built my own successful business, was elected and reelected governor of Illinois, found and married the love of my life, and raised two kind and smart kids. But I had never been successful at losing weight.
Because of my type 2 diabetes diagnosis, my doctor gave me a prescription for a GLP-1 along with insulin.
I have now been on a GLP-1 for more than two years, and it seems to have made a world of difference. First, the food noise — which used to make me look at my watch and wish the next mealtime would come faster — has gone away. I also exercise every day. It was drudgery in the first month, but after that, it’s become an enjoyable reprieve from the daily grind. After about 18 months, my glucose levels came down to a normal range and with my doctor’s permission I got off insulin. And I’ve lost 80 pounds so far.
In ways no medical test could ever show, I have been able to enjoy life more fully. I start every day with a four-mile walk. I take hikes or play sports with my son and daughter. Pickleball, tennis, padel, and jogging are all things that I love to do now.
This summer, a veteran engineer at the Illinois Department of Transportation approached me at the state fair and told me “Governor, you changed my life. You authorized our state health insurance plan to cover GLP-1s, and I’ve now lost 100 pounds.” Then her husband thanked me profusely. I told her she did the hard work to improve her own health, and she deserves the kudos for taking the leap. Hearing her story made me consider telling my own story so others might feel emboldened to ask their doctor about a GLP-1. That’s when I decided to sit down with CBS.
It was never my plan to tell this story publicly. The idea of talking about my struggles with being overweight in front of a camera still makes me uncomfortable, especially since weight can carry moral judgment in ways that other health challenges do not. GLP-1s aren’t a moral failing; they are a health tool. For many of us, they are the catalyst that make diet and exercise more likely to succeed. But that fear of judgment stops too many people struggling with obesity, diabetes, and heart disease from getting treatment that could extend and enrich their lives.
Sometimes as a public figure, sharing a personal story can allow another chance to do some good. Knowing firsthand that when others share their personal experiences it can inform public policymaking, maybe I should do that too.
This is not intended to advise any individual person to go on GLP-1s. I am not a doctor. And even though they have worked for me, I know they aren’t right for everyone. But I do have a responsibility to improve the quality of healthcare in my state, and I believe expanding access to GLP-1s and lowering their cost can do that.
The research so far shows GLP-1s can treat far more than obesity or diabetes. An Aon study just found that over time, offering GLP-1s to workers reduces hospitalizations and slows medical cost growth. It seems to be a perfect illustration of Benjamin Franklin’s philosophy: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
That’s why, in 2024, I made Illinois one of the first states in the country to cover GLP-1s on the state employee health insurance plan. Saving money and saving lives seem like two of the most laudable goals we could achieve in government.
That’s why I love my job. We can change lives for the better. Illinoisans can spend more time with families and more time enjoying life.
Today, Medicare covers GLP-1s for many patients trying to lose weight. Medicaid often does not — and it should. Private plans are all over the place. They should cover it, too. I will continue to urge all insurers to cover these treatments because if we can help people before they become seriously ill, that’s better for hospital systems, public health, lower budgets, and most importantly, longevity.
Genetic and biomedical research is ushering in a golden age of healthcare innovation. From the progress researchers have made on curing sickle cell anemia to a promising set of studies about an Alzheimer’s treatment, the outlook for patients struggling with once incurable conditions may become very bright over the next several decades. We need to get creative about how we can make these preventive treatments and cures for severe or fatal conditions more available for all patients.
This experience has also forced some introspection: If my dad had been able to access GLP-1s, would he have lived long enough to see me grow up? To help my mom raise our family or overcome her alcoholism? To meet my kids? That’s how transformative these drugs can be.
I’m not taking for granted that we now have tools to help us live healthier lives, and I hope sharing my story will encourage people to explore their options.
If you have struggled with type 2 diabetes or being overweight, I hope this can be the push you need to talk to your doctor again. Evaluate your options. See if a GLP-1 can help you live a much longer life with the people you love and live for. I’m hoping that’s what it will do for me.
Thanks for this post. I too am on a GLP1 and it changed my life. My food noise abated. I got down to a normal weight. I have more energy. I never was a big drinker, but now I seldom drink an adult beverage which makes me safer and more alert.
Gov. Pritzker, thanks for sharing your experience, and you look great! You are an articulate spokesman for the values our party believes in and campaigns on. Illinois is blessed with a highly capable governor.