Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has revealed that he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes two years ago and has lost 80lb after starting a GLP-1 medication, alongside improving his diet and exercising.
The 61-year-old Democrat said doctors had warned that he would probably need insulin for the rest of his life. His office said he is no longer taking insulin and now has readings in the “no diabetes/prediabetic levels”.
The disclosure, made in an interview with CBS News, is the first time Mr Pritzker has publicly confirmed both his diagnosis and use of a GLP-1 drug. The medication is prescribed for diabetes treatment and weight loss.
Mr Pritzker said he had struggled with his weight since he was seven. His father, Donald Pritzker, died of a heart attack at the age of 39 while playing tennis, and the governor said he had long monitored his cholesterol, triglycerides and other health markers because of his family history.
He said the pressure of leading Illinois, the sixth-largest state in the US, had contributed to further weight gain. After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, his doctor told him: “Oh no, you’ll never come off of it. You’re going to have to do this the rest of your life, and I recommend that you take a GLP-1.”
His wife, MK Pritzker, encouraged him to begin the treatment. “I want him to be around for a really long time,” she told CBS News.
Mr Pritzker said he noticed the effects within days, including a loss of the appetite urges he had previously experienced. “It was the strangest feeling,” he said.
He has also attracted attention in Chicago by taking walks along the Lake Michigan path, a habit that has allowed him to speak regularly with constituents.
The governor had previously joked about his slimmer appearance at the Gridiron Club and Foundation’s annual white-tie dinner in Washington. “I’m JB Pritzker, governor of the great state of Illinois, and if you’re seeing me in person for the very first time, yes, I’m the guy who put ‘gov’ in ‘Wegovy,’” he told guests.
Donald Trump has frequently referred to Mr Pritzker’s weight in personal attacks. Asked about his weight loss in 2025, the governor replied: “How about, just for health.”
Pritzker avoids 2028 presidential questions
Mr Pritzker, who is viewed as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, declined to say whether he planned to run. “I honestly am focused on what’s best for the people of Illinois,” he said.
His announcement comes as he takes a higher-profile role in the 2026 midterm elections, chairing a political action committee that plans to invest at least $20 million in Democratic House races.
Mr Pritzker also praised Illinois’ decision to cover GLP-1 medication for people with diabetes, becoming emotional as he recalled a woman telling him that access to the treatment had saved her life.
