Cholesterol levels normal for the first time in years

[Jenasaurus]

I wanted to share a non scale victory. My cholesterol was always really high. It was 9.4 and even on statins it only got to 6 but I have just had the best blood test result. It’s now 3 and I’m normal! There are only 2 things since my previous test. One is Mounjaro and the other is I have Huel protein shakes for breakfast. It could be a combination of both but I tend to think it’s the Mounjaro. It’s not the weight loss as I lost weight before but my cholesterol remained high so it must be something in the injections themselves that has helped

That's a hell of a drop in a few months, are you still on statins?

Wow, excellent result!

It will mostly be Mounjaro as it promotes visceral fat loss and specifically around liver area, although Huel as a diet change might also have supported the change.

Hopefully you will be able to sustain the reduction over time and if it stays low potentially discuss reducing them. I believe statins are very different to other meds and sometimes not advised to stop once started, especially if there is a genetic aspect to your previously very high levels or history of cardiovascular disease.

Even if you don't get to stop them, you have remarkably improved your health and significantly reduced some very significant risks. Well done! 💗

Wow how amazing! Long may it continue, well done 👏

Yes, I take 20mg each night, but on Statins alone I could only get it to 6.4, add in Mounjaro and now in a healthy range!

I’ve come to accept that I’ll likely be on statins—and hopefully Mounjaro—for life, if I’m allowed to continue. I pay for Mounjaro privately because, despite having type 2 diabetes, a history of obesity, and high cholesterol, my starting levels weren’t considered high enough to qualify for it on the NHS.

Back when my BMI was 33.4 and my HbA1c was 80, I wasn’t offered any medication—not even metformin. So I took matters into my own hands. I went all-in on a zero-carb, intermittent fasting regime. It worked: I lost a lot of weight, brought my HbA1c down to 42, and my BMI dropped to 23. But it wasn’t sustainable. The weight crept back on, especially after starting statins, which triggered intense cravings and a bigger appetite.

Eventually, I started Mounjaro and things turned around again. My HbA1c is now 37, and my cholesterol has improved dramatically (from 7.6 to 3.9 mmol/L total cholesterol, and non-HDL from 6.4 to 2.7). These are numbers I’m proud of.

What frustrates me is that if I hadn’t worked so hard to lose weight on my own, I probably would have qualified for treatment sooner. But because I succeeded through diet alone, the assumption was that I didn’t need help. The truth is, I do. Diet alone didn’t work long-term. It was exhausting and unsustainable.

I’m happy to pay for Mounjaro because, honestly, what price can you put on health? For me, this isn’t about vanity—it’s about staying well, managing my diabetes, and avoiding complications. I just wish the system recognised that needing help doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it means you’re committed to staying healthy.

Hopefully you’ll be able to get an NHS prescription for the MJ as a diabetic soon. At least in some areas they will now quite readily prescribe it if your blood sugar is not well controlled by metformin.

I wrote to my doctor via the receptionist/email route the following email

Dear Dr xxxxx

I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing to request a review of my eligibility for Mounjaro (tirzepatide) under the updated NHS prescribing criteria.
Over the past few years, I’ve worked extremely hard to manage my type 2 diabetes and weight. In 2022, my HbA1c was 80 mmol/mol and my BMI was 33.4. Despite these levels, I was not offered any medication at the time. I took a proactive approach and managed to reduce my HbA1c to 42 through a strict zero-carb, intermittent fasting regime. However, this approach was not sustainable long-term, and I experienced weight regain.
Since then, I’ve started statins, which unfortunately increased my appetite and cravings, making weight maintenance more difficult. I began self-funding Mounjaro, and the results have been transformative:

• BMI reduced from 33.4 to 26
• HbA1c reduced again to 37
• Total cholesterol dropped from 7.6 to 3.9 mmol/L
• Non-HDL cholesterol dropped from 6.4 to 2.7 mmol/L

These improvements have significantly reduced my cardiovascular risk and improved my quality of life. However, I recognise that my condition is chronic and relapsing, and I will likely need long-term support to maintain these gains. I understand that the current NHS criteria for Mounjaro prioritise patients with a BMI ≥40 and multiple comorbidities While I do not meet the BMI threshold now, I believe my history of obesity, high HbA1c, and dyslipidaemia—along with the demonstrated effectiveness of Mounjaro in my case—make a strong case for clinical discretion. I would be grateful if you could consider my case for NHS prescribing, or advise whether a referral to a specialist weight management service might be appropriate under the NICE TA1026 framework

Thank you for your time and support."

I received a standard email response from the receptionist (who I dont think even shared the email with my doctor) basically saying don't make an appointment to discuss with the GP as the criteria for Mounjaro on NHS is very strict and I am not able to have it... (a lot longer email but it was basically a copy and paste from the NHS guidelines) - I did want my doctor to at least see the email as he was continually calling me to get me to lower my cholesterol (even rang me when I was on holiday...to be fair my cholesterol was dangerously high at the time) but I thought he would be pleased I was taking my health seriously.

The receptionist may have missed the bit about diabetes. NHS criteria are very strict for weight loss, but MJ can be prescribed to diabetics.