Diabetes and Obesity Prevented

Victoza (liraglutide)-was recently approved by the FDA to treat Type 2 Diabetes, and its ugly cousins cardiovascular morbidity (illness) and mortality (death). But will prove more valuable in the long run to prevent this 21st century epidemic. In at least 30 double blind, well-conducted research protocols, this drug performed better than any weight loss drug on the market. With a caloric restricted diet and proper exercise, this is the best product to be approved for our fattening population. Moreover, compared to other drugs, there was less muscle loss and the fat that was lost was the more dangerous intra-abdominal lard. It is well known that these fat cells release dangerous cytokines that travel to other tissues such as blood vessels causing plaque, and to nuclei producing cancer. A growing number of corpulent folks develop a fatty liver (hepatic steatosis) that quietly in some leads to cirrhosis. This drug prevents these problems as well as diabetes.

Victoza is an injectable prescription medicine that improves blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes when used with a diet and exercise program. However, as an “off label use” it can be prescribed for prediabtes and 80% of obese patients have either Diabetes or Prediabetes. Insurance companies will probably not pay for off label use, although it may be cost effective to do so to save future expenditures. Victoza is in the class of natural hormones to control our metabolism, called Incretins and more specifically in humans Amylin. There are two in humans. They are GIP (glucose-independent insulinotropic peptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide -1). Both hormones are secreted by the endocrine cells, L and T respectively in the intestinal lining in response to glucose in the gut. The glucose is from the break down of sugars and starches that we eat. The hormone, which is then absorbed into our circulation and travels to the various target organ receptors in our brain, stomach and pancreas. In these Amylin decreases our blood sugar and the desire to eat. Victoza acts like the drug Byetta that has been on the market for 3 years, also taken immediately before meals by injection, but is degraded rapidly and must be given twice daily instead of once and is less effective.

Victoza is given any time during the day. The only significant side effect is nausea that usually goes away after several weeks. By itself, there is no low blood sugar, only normalization. There is a rare case of inflammation of the pancreas in the 4,000 of the test subjects and in animals a chance of an unusual cancer of the thyroid. It comes in 3 sizes of pre-filled pen like syringes. Other weight loss adjuncts can be given with it, such as HcG, inositol, and methionine.
There are two main incretin hormones in humans. They are GIP (glucose-independent insulinotropic peptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide -1). Both hormones are secreted by the endocrine cells, L and T respectively in the intestinal lining in response to glucose in the gut. The glucose is from the break down of sugars and starches that we eat. The hormone, which is then absorbed, goes into our circulation and travels to the various target organ receptorsThere are two main incretin hormones in humans. They are GIP (glucose-independent insulinotropic peptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide -1). Both hormones are secreted by the endocrine cells, L and T respectively in the intestinal lining in response to glucose in the gut. The glucose is from the break down of sugars and starches that we eat. The hormone, which is then absorbed, goes into our circulation and travels to the various target organ receptors.
Victoza and Byetta are registered trademarks.