Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker revealed Monday that he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes two years ago and has since lost 80 pounds while taking a GLP-1 medication and overhauling his health habits.
CBS Mornings shared video of the 61-year-old Democrat discussing the diagnosis and the treatment that he said transformed his long-running effort to lose weight.
Pritzker said his physician recommended a GLP-1 after warning that insulin could otherwise become a lifelong necessity. His wife, MK Pritzker, encouraged him to move forward because she wanted him to remain healthy for years to come.
The governor’s office said Pritzker combined the medication with changes to his diet and exercise routine. It also said he is no longer taking insulin and that his current readings fall below the ranges indicating diabetes or prediabetes.
Pritzker said he noticed a difference soon after beginning treatment.
“It was the strangest feeling,” he said while describing his early response to the medication.
Walking has also become a visible part of the governor’s routine. Pritzker is now regularly seen exercising along Chicago’s Lake Michigan path, where he can interact with residents while getting additional activity.
Pritzker said his weight has been a struggle since childhood, making the recent loss the latest chapter in a decades-long health battle.
His family history added urgency to the diagnosis. His father, Donald Pritzker, died from a heart attack at age 39, when the future governor was still a child.
Pritzker said he had long monitored health markers including his cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, he acknowledged that the pressures accompanying the governor’s office contributed to further weight gain.
His slimmer appearance attracted public attention before he disclosed the diabetes diagnosis. When asked about his weight loss in a 2025 interview, Pritzker gave a brief explanation: “How about, just for health.”
Earlier this year, he addressed the change with humor at the Gridiron Club and Foundation’s annual dinner in Washington, joking that he was the governor who put “gov” in “Wegovy.”
Pritzker also highlighted Illinois’ coverage of GLP-1 medications for qualifying diabetes patients. He became emotional while recounting an encounter with a woman who told him access to the medication had saved her life.
The medications are commonly used to improve blood-sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Certain drugs in the class are also prescribed for chronic weight management, though Pritzker’s treatment began following his diabetes diagnosis.
The disclosure arrives as Pritzker assumes a more prominent role in national Democratic politics before the 2026 midterm elections.
He recently launched a political action committee expected to direct at least $20 million toward Democratic candidates in US House races, Politico reported.
Pritzker has also faced continuing questions about a possible presidential campaign in 2028. His name has appeared in early polling of a potential Democratic field, although no campaign has been announced.
Asked Monday whether he could enter the race, Pritzker declined to commit and said he remained focused on serving Illinois residents.
The governor has simultaneously maintained a combative national profile, including repeated clashes with President Donald Trump over crime and the prospect of federal intervention in Chicago.
Pritzker’s announcement provided the clearest public account yet of the health issues behind his changing appearance, detailing both the diabetes diagnosis and the medical treatment he credits as one component of his 80-pound weight loss.
