Victoza

I was recently told by my Spanish doctor that I would need to start injecting as my pancreas after a virus was no longer producing enough insulin. Having just watch the disturbing TV show (UK TV Channel 4 I think) about Victoza and Byetta having been associated with other 'problems' and the fact that the Federal Drugs Agency in USA and more recently their equivalent in Europe were 'keeping tabs on recent issues' I was very concerned. It seems the drug manufacturers want to prescribe those drugs as a way of combatting obesity, apparently they help you lose weight however, the side effects can affect some people more than others.

Anyway, the day arrived and my doctor confirmed his suspicions and said he was starting me immediately on insulin, I queried the type of injections he was prescribing, and before I mentioned any brand names etc, he said "in his opinion the Byetta/Victoza and another name I cannot recall, were not good for me, he also pointed out they were stimulants for the pancreas cells regeneration (as I understood it via my translator) but he was 'not happy' they would work for me despite being overweight?

I understand that they are OK for some and NOT for others, pretty much like most medications, anyway I got started on Lantus, still some minor control issues but it seems to be going in the right direction. I would spend some time getting research done but of course try to get a balanced opinion, the net has it's fair share of scaremongers, so research, read, discuss, analyse and ultimately make your own (informed) decision, it is your health after all.

Dave MH