| Here is yet another case of a home remedy | | | | bring it down to a safer level. If low blood sugar |
| waiting to be discovered. In 2005 the U.S. Food | | | | occurs, the patient generally consumes |
| and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a drug | | | | carbohydrates to raise the glucose level to a safe |
| for the treatment of Type II Diabetes. The drug | | | | level. Type II Diabetes is a chronic disorder |
| is called Byetta (exenatide). There's nothing | | | | characterized by resistance to insulin, a deficiency |
| amazing about that part. New drugs are created | | | | in insulin, and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar or |
| often. | | | | excess glucose). |
| The almost unbelievable part is where the drug | | | | Exenatide helps with glucose (blood sugar) |
| originated. It wasn't produced in a lab. Instead, the | | | | management in several ways: |
| active ingredient of Byetta comes from the | | | | 1. It signals the pancreas to create additional insulin |
| venomous saliva of the Gila Monster lizard. | | | | when glucose levels are too high; |
| The Gila Monster, once thought to be one of only | | | | 2. It regulates the liver so that it doesn't produce |
| two venomous lizards, lives in the deserts of the | | | | unneeded glucose; and |
| southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico. The | | | | 3. It helps slow the rate at which sugar enters the |
| Gila Monster is a thick-bodied, heavy and | | | | bloodstream. |
| slow-moving lizard. It grows to a maximum length | | | | Studies showed that another significant effect of |
| of 2 feet (0.6 m) and preys on small rodents, | | | | exenatide use was weight loss. Overweight |
| fledgling birds, and eggs. It tends to eat animals on | | | | diabetes patients can have more difficulty |
| the ground that cannot move fast (or at all). The | | | | controlling blood sugar levels. The effectiveness of |
| quick, strong bite of the Gila Monster delivers | | | | exenatide for diabetic blood glucose control stems |
| venomous saliva that is normally not fatal to | | | | from its ability to activate several glucose control |
| humans. | | | | pathways simultaneously. |
| Instead, there is a component of the lizard's | | | | Byetta (exenatide) is a wonderful drug, although |
| venom that is extremely helpful to certain | | | | its discovery sounds like some kind of horror |
| humans. A component in the Gila Monster's | | | | story. One can only imagine gruesome (but |
| venom has proven remarkably effective in the | | | | fictitious) clinical trials where unsuspecting diabetics |
| control of Type II Diabetes in humans. The Gila | | | | are asked to stick their arms into dark boxes |
| Monster is a protected species in the U.S. | | | | containing Gila Monsters. This discovery sounds like |
| Fortunately, the exenatide drug can now be | | | | one of those "good news/bad news" jokes. For |
| synthesized in the lab instead of from live animals. | | | | example, the doctor says, "The bad news is that |
| Diabetes is a chronic medical disorder generally | | | | the lizard probably won't release its bite on your |
| characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels, | | | | leg for another week. The good news is that |
| especially after eating. The diabetic patient must | | | | your diabetes has improved!" |
| consistently monitor blood sugar levels to keep | | | | To learn more about using available ingredients to |
| them within a safe range. | | | | cure everyday illnesses, please refer to the |
| When high blood sugar occurs, insulin is used to | | | | resource shown below. |