Politics
JB Pritzker Reveals New Diagnosis
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker revealed Monday that he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes two years ago and turned to a GLP-1 medication as part of a health overhaul that has led to an 80-pound weight loss.
The 61-year-old Democrat disclosed the diagnosis publicly for the first time in an interview with CBS News, saying doctors had warned him that he could otherwise face long-term insulin use.
Pritzker said his physician recommended a GLP-1 medication after the diagnosis.
“My doctor said, ‘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,’” Pritzker recalled about being told he’d have to take insulin.
His wife, MK Pritzker, said she encouraged him to move forward with the treatment.
“I want him to be around for a really long time,” she told CBS.
Pritzker’s office said the governor combined the medication with changes to his diet and exercise routine.
According to his office, Pritzker “is no longer on insulin and down to levels that indicate no diabetes/prediabetic levels.”
Pritzker said he noticed changes soon after beginning the medication.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker told @davidbegnaud that he’s “been driven my whole life to lose weight” — and two years ago, he added a new tool to that effort: A GLP-1.
First on CBS Mornings, Gov. Pritzker shared about the decision to use the medication for weight loss after… pic.twitter.com/Uiepd5iVJg
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) September 21, 2026
“It was the strangest feeling.”
The governor has also become a regular sight walking along Chicago’s Lake Michigan path, a routine that has allowed him to exercise while interacting with residents.
Pritzker said his weight had been a struggle since childhood.
His concerns about his health were intensified by his family history. His father, Donald Pritzker, died of a heart attack at age 39 when Pritzker was still a child.
The governor said he had spent years closely monitoring cholesterol, triglycerides and other health indicators, but acknowledged that the pressure of serving as governor contributed to additional weight gain.
His slimmer appearance had already attracted public attention before Monday’s disclosure.
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Earlier this year, Pritzker joked about his weight loss during the Gridiron Club and Foundation’s annual dinner in Washington.
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“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 the high-profile crowd.
Asked about his weight loss in a 2025 interview, Pritzker offered a much shorter explanation.
“How about, just for health.”
Pritzker also highlighted Illinois‘ coverage of GLP-1 medications for patients with diabetes, becoming emotional while discussing a woman who told him that access to the medication had saved her life.
The health disclosure comes as Pritzker takes a larger role in national Democratic politics ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
He recently launched a political action committee aimed at spending at least $20 million in Democratic House races.
Pritzker has also faced repeated questions about whether he could seek the presidency in 2028.
He declined to commit to a future campaign during Monday’s interview.
“I honestly am focused on what’s best for the people of Illinois,” he said.
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