Victoza & Type 1 Diabetes

I was going to ask this question, I'd be interested to hear of any experiences, I am trying other methods and adjustments but still getting some huge spikes post meals and this came up amongst possible things that could help.

I tried it for a while-did nothing for my levels but made me violently ill-even on the lowest starting dose and it was a blessing in disguise that I couldn't as questions have been raised of banning it for very nasty complications I found out afterwards.

http://consumernewsweekly.com/fda-to-ban-victoza-over-thyroid-cancer-risk/

I'm on Victoza and as far as I am aware it is only used on type 2


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Crimsonclient said:

I'm on Victoza and as far as I am aware it is only used on type 2


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They tried it on me after diagnosis of late onset type 1 after Byetta had failed as they thought I might get away without insulin for a while as some late onset type 1's don't need to progress onto insulin straight away but I needed to (albeit a small dose)

the only active process victoza would provide for a type 1 is the slowing of digestion in the stomach, as it wouldn't help an increase of insulin production as a type 1s beta cells have been destroyed...

so the question is why would you want to slow digestion unless your digestion was abnormally fast but then in that case you would simply bolus well in advance of your meal, which is normal practice for a lot of type 1s in there attempt to reduce mid meal spikes....

are you thinking that its something that would help or has someone mentioned it......

paul-1976 said:

They tried it on me after diagnosis of late onset type 1 after Byetta had failed as they thought I might get away without insulin for a while as some late onset type 1's don't need to progress onto insulin straight away but I needed to (albeit a small dose)

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That's great if type 1's can use it as well, one of the key things with Victoza is that it helps you stopping putting weight on whilst on insulin


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well is that strictly true..............

a type 1.5 LADA is still producing their own insulin, so victoza would work, but for a full developed type 1, not so much....

A T1.5 LADA may or may not be producing insulin; it just depends on how advanced it is. It's the condition same as T1 but a later development.

My pancreatic function was at the stage that Victoza and Byetta did nothing to reduce my levels and insulin and low carb was the only way for me whereas some LADA's have been known to be able to avoid insulin for a decade although starting insulin sooner rather than later would make sense to preserve pancreatic function.

I only have a basic understanding of the LADA mechanisms, but will a type 1.5 not become type 1 eventually......

I was under the belief that the classification of a diabetic is down to identifying the mechanisms taking place.........

so type 1 is beta cell destruction and type 2 is insulin resistance and limited insulin production...

which makes type 1.5 type 1 but just slower.......



6 and half a dozen I suppose...

I tried a vial of it I am based in UK used it through a syringe and took dose depending on what my bloods were pre meal etc I definetly made me feel fuller and increased my insulin sensitivity but because of this I had one or two bad hypos... I would like to have tried it more long term.

AdamAdam said:

Hi,

Does anyone know if Dr's will prescribe Victoza to type 1 diabetics? Are you a type 1 on Victoza?

Thanks

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Yes, my dr. prescribed me Victoza. I am a Type 1 diabetic.

jodysd6 said:

I was going to ask this question, I'd be interested to hear of any experiences, I am trying other methods and adjustments but still getting some huge spikes post meals and this came up amongst possible things that could help.

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It really curved my appetite. I didn't feel sick to my stomach just a full feeling.

AdamAdam said:

Hi,

Does anyone know if Dr's will prescribe Victoza to type 1 diabetics? Are you a type 1 on Victoza?

Thanks

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im a type 1 my partners type 2 hes been put on victoza by the diabetic clinic,i was told sorry its not for type 1

I'm type 1 and I've been prescribed Victoza. I've been on it for about a year and a half now.

The first 2-3 months were hell. Horrendous sickness (nausea, vomtting &diarrhea and I could barely eat a thing. Once that had calmed down though, all was ok.

I went on it because I have insulin resistance as well as type1 so my insulin doses were very high. The victoza allowed me to drastically cut my insulin and helped me lose 2 stone in weight / drop 3 dress sizes / reduce my BMI from 32 to 27 (ish - I can't remember exact numbers!)


The delayed stomach emptying is the key thing for type 1s I think. It basically makes you feel full much sooner than you normally would, so your portion sizes reduce quite dramatically. Like I said, for the first 2-3 months I hardly ate anything, so no wonder I lost weight. but it was not pleasant and I found myself in a few bad situations with going hypo and not physically feeling able to put any food or liquid into my body without needing to vomit.


So in summary, hellish to start with, but considerable weight loss with reduced portion sizes and reduced insulin levels (which also helps with weight loss, since high insulin levels encourages your body to put on weight).


One final thing, it is VERY expensive and not all doctors / GPs will prescribe it for type1s. Indeed, it isn't licensed for use by type 1s. I was lucky that my GP agreed to prescribe it under my consultant's advice - not all GPs will do so.