The Nittany Turkey

Honey, Politics, and Big Pharma, Oh My!

Welcome to another week of fun musings about the wonderful world of incretin drugs for Type 2 diabetics. Here, I chronicle my progress on Mounjaro, which through 45 weeks has been a helpful adjunct to diet and exercise in bringing my blood glucose and body weight under control. Currently at the 7.5 mg dose, my HbA1c has dropped from 7.6% (60 mmol/mol) to 5.4% (36 mmol/mol), and I have lost 65 (29.5 kg) pounds of Kosher pork.

In addition to my boring progress, we touch on various subjects related to GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs like Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound and the massive weight-loss market. I provide information about diet, exercise, drug research, helpful monitoring devices. You name it, we got it!

This week, I’ll be looking at some current research into honey, which has inspired me to experiment with the sweet stuff. I happily offer my body as a sacrifice to the gods of science. I’ll also drone on about the war between Big Pharma and the compounding pharmacies, with an additional tidbit about a governmental reversal on Medicare coverage for weight-loss drugs.

Always Consult Your Doctor

But first, I must spout the usual disclaimers. As a 78-year-old pretend amateur metabolic scientist and geriatric gym rat who is not a licensed physician, I can’t legally dispense medical advice and I am certainly not prescribing Mounjaro. Telling you what to do is my nature, but you have only yourself to blame for following any advice I offer. In other words, don’t sue me because something you read here doesn’t pan out for you. Instead, visit your local flesh-and-blood doctor, or even someone of indeterminate national origin in a white coat on a tele-health screen at a profiteering weight loss salon or compounding pharmacy. They have the necessary malpractice insurance to protect them when they screw up.

The Buzz about Honey

This week, I’ve decided to dive head-first into yet another dietary rabbit hole—this time, it’s honey. Lately, YouTube health gurus, notably Thomas DeLauer, have been touting honey as not just another form of sugar, but as an outright health boon. The idea that honey might even benefit people with Type 2 diabetes seems about as likely as my HOA admitting that stupid STOP sign was a mistake! Nevertheless, the research intrigued me enough to give it a closer look.

At first glance, honey is just liquid sugar, right? Yes, it is mostly glucose and fructose—just like table sugar. However, it also contains trace minerals, antioxidants (like flavonoids), vitamins, and enzymes that are notably absent from your average Domino’s bag. More interestingly, honey boasts a lower glycemic index than regular sugar, meaning it should cause a slower, gentler rise in blood sugar levels. Plus, antioxidants in honey might reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which are big troublemakers in the insulin resistance game.

Scientific Evidence Exists

Scientific studies back up some of these claims. For instance, a 2018 study published in Nutrition & Diabetes showed that moderate honey intake could improve cholesterol profiles and decrease inflammation compared to traditional sugars—even among diabetics. Another recent review suggests honey could improve glycemic control and insulin sensitivity, thanks to its complex interaction with gut bacteria and antioxidant content. Yes, indeed, we’re talking about the all-important gut microbiota!

But let’s not start guzzling jars of honey just yet—there are caveats. The studies showing beneficial results dealt with moderate amounts. As always, dose makes the poison. Moreover, raw, unprocessed honey contains a plethora of beneficial compounds, whereas processed honey amounts to colored Karo syrup.

Another Experiment for You

Given this backdrop, your favorite self-anointed geriatric diabetic Kosher Mounjaro guinea pig (yours truly) is running yet another self-experiment. (Recall that last week’s allulose vs. erythritol experiment didn’t work out so well for my digestive tract, but I digress). I’ll be consuming one tablespoon of raw, unprocessed honey daily for 30 days. I’ll be watching its effects on my blood sugar like a hawk using my trusty, schizoid Dexcom Stelo.

Just for shits and grins, I initiated this scientific investigation on Saturday by slurping up two tablespoons of honey during my afternoon workout. Interestingly, my glucose remained steady, with no significant spike detected—so far, so good. But on Sunday, taking my dose of bee sugar on an empty, morning stomach created a glucose spike to about 140 mg/dL (7.78 mmol/L). This could be an interesting and eventful investigative path toward the truth. So, fasten your seat belts for a bumpy ride.

The Quest for Proof

At the conclusion of my thirty-day honey-soaked adventure, I’ll top it off the pseudo-science with some lab measurements. I am thinking lipid profile, HbA1c, fasting glucose, and insulin levels will tell the tale whether more than just sweet hype is behind honey’s claims. Of course, I’ll note any obvious interim weirdness in my weekly updates here.

So, please stick around, mateys. Either I’ll emerge enlightened with yet another dietary trick up my sleeve, or I’ll provide a cautionary tale proving once again that YouTube health gurus are full of…honey. In any case, after a month of forced honey ingestion, I might never manage to stomach the sight of those damn ridiculous plastic bear-shaped honey jars again!

The Obesity Industrial Complex—A Tale of Two Grifts

Welcome to the latest installment of “As the Waistline Turns,” where we dissect the ever-expanding saga of the obesity industrial complex. This week, we’re spotlighting the dual-pronged assault on GLP-1 medications for obesity—a narrative so rich in irony, it could give a sugar-free candy a run for its money. (And the sorbitol they use to sweeten that crap sure does give you the runs!).

The Great Obesity Rebranding: Disease or Marketing Ploy?

Once upon a time, obesity was considered a condition—a complex interplay of lifestyle, environment, and yes, in rare cases, genetics. Enter the rebranding: obesity is now a “chronic, relapsing disease,” a term so catchy it could have its own jingle. This semantic shift isn’t just academic; it’s a strategic maneuver that opens the floodgates for pharmaceutical interventions, conveniently covered by insurance and, by extension, taxpayers.

YouTubers: The Unwitting Pharma Influencers

In the age of digital enlightenment, where every influencer with a ring light is a self-proclaimed health guru, the narrative of obesity as a disease has found fertile ground. These content creators, perhaps unknowingly, have become the de facto marketing arm of Big Pharma, peddling the gospel of GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound as the panacea for our collective waistline woes.

Compounding Pharmacies: The Short-Lived Robin Hoods

Amidst the GLP-1 gold rush, compounding pharmacies emerged as the Robin Hoods of the healthcare world, offering more affordable, albeit unapproved, versions of these medications. But alas, their reign was short-lived. The FDA, in a plot twist worthy of a daytime soap, declared the shortage of tirzepatide over, effectively pulling the rug out from under these compounders. Enforcement discretion ended for 503A pharmacies on February 18, 2025, and for 503B outsourcing facilities on March 19, 2025 .

One Compounder’s Fall From Grace

Mochi Health, once a prominent telehealth platform offering compounded GLP-1 medications like tirzepatide and semaglutide, has faced significant challenges due to recent regulatory changes. The FDA has determined that the shortages of these medications have been resolved, leading to the end of enforcement discretion for compounding pharmacies. As a result, compounding pharmacies are now restricted from producing these medications unless specific criteria are met.

In response, Mochi Health has been working to adapt by partnering with pharmacies like Empower and Red Rock to fulfill prescriptions. However, patients have reported delays and uncertainties about the availability of their medications. The company has also faced scrutiny over its practices, including the provision of compounded medications to minors without thorough verification processes.

These developments highlight the complexities and challenges faced by telehealth providers and patients in navigating the evolving landscape of weight loss treatments and regulatory compliance.

Big Pharma Strikes Back

Not content with regulatory victories, pharmaceutical behemoths like Eli Lilly have taken to the courts, suing compounding pharmacies for producing unapproved versions of their blockbuster drugs. In a move that screams “protect the profits,” Lilly filed lawsuits against two compounders, accusing them of selling unapproved products containing tirzepatide. Expect more litigation as time goes by.

Medicare Coverage: A Political Football

Meanwhile, in the hallowed halls of government, the Trump administration has decided that Medicare will not cover anti-obesity drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound. This decision overturns a Biden-era proposal and maintains the longstanding policy that Medicare does not fund weight-loss drugs . While some may see this as fiscal responsibility, others view it as a denial of access to potentially life-changing treatments. Medicare will continue to cover some GLP-1 RA drugs for Type 2 diabetes, and as I told you last week, CMS will be negotiating prices with Danish Ozempic producer Novo Nordisk.

The Bottom Line: A Tale of Two Grifts

In this grand narrative, we’re caught between two grifts: one that medicalizes a condition to sell expensive treatments, and another that exploits regulatory loopholes to offer unapproved alternatives. As taxpayers, patients, and consumers, we’re left to navigate this complex landscape, questioning who truly benefits from these so-called solutions.

So, as we sip our unsweetened almond milk lattes and ponder our next steps, let’s remember that in the world of obesity treatment, the scale isn’t the only thing being manipulated.

My Week on Mounjaro

I resumed my workout schedule as my back and neck pain abated. I’ll further address the literal pain in the neck in my physiatrist appointment toward the end of the month. Meanwhile, my new Garmin Venu 3 fitness tracking smart watch provided an added high-tech inducement to play in the gym, both at my senior citizen rehab/gym and my semi-repurposed family room. At the former, I discovered the wonders of the “Gravitron 2000” assisted pull-up and dip machine, which convinced me that even an old fart can do copious pull-ups if he negates enough of his still excessive body weight. Yet another incentive to play gym rat and show off for the old ladies! (Just kidding, Jenny!).

My new paradigm prioritizes building muscle over continued weight loss while still on Mounjaro. So, over the past few weeks I have adjusted my caloric intake upward with an emphasis on protein while maintaining the low-carbohydrate approach. Instead of operating at a caloric deficit, I now have a surplus. Given my workout schedule, the high protein, and the confirmation that my ‘nads are still making testosterone (see Week 39 Update), my theory is that the surplus will be aimed at muscle growth instead of inflating my spare tire.

No hikes this week, alas. We’ll see if we can rectumfy that deficit this week. And now, the numbers.

The Mounjaro Numbers, Already!

I’ll reiterate that I am at the 7.5 mg dose of Mounjaro, hoping to go no higher and planning to dump the drug completely by the end of the calendar year. My progress has flattened out, but I won’t be chasing ever-increasing doses of Mounjaro to sink Big Pharma’s hook even further into my flesh. They want addiction for life; I want freedom and nirvana.

That having been said (as trite segues go), my average fasting glucose for the week was 94 mg/dL (5.22 mmol/L), down from 102 mg/dL (5.67 mmol/L) last week. My paranoid schizophrenic Stelo CGM device shows my seven-day overall average as 96 mg/dL (5.33 mmol/L). I’d say this is decent glucose control. Body weight for the week was flat at 182.4 lbs (82.9 kg).

Moving Right Along…

And so, we conclude another week in the annals of this Mounjaro-for-old-farts saga. This week, we gave you a taste of honey, the sweet elixir we’ll be savoring more over the next few weeks. We also looked at the attempt by Big Pharma to corner the market on GLP-1 RA drugs, squeezing out the parasitic compounding pharmacy industry. And finally, we opined on the Trump Administration’s reversal of the attempted taxpayer-funded incretin give-away by the cretins in the Biden Adminstration’s waning days.

Until next week, Happy Easter, Happy Passover, and stay healthy!

For an annotated catalog of all my Mounjaro updates, please visit my Mounjaro Update Catalog page.