Type 2 diabetes drug Victoza is linked with potential pancreatic damage — again!

Something cookin’ this way comes

She seems so sweet and friendly. But could Paula Deen end up being one of the most dangerous people on television?

First, she creates a celebrity chef empire built on tempting carb-and-sugar-laden dishes.

Then, she becomes a spokesperson for Victoza, a type 2 diabetes drug.

Now it turns out that Victoza might be a disaster for the pancreas, raising risk of early death.

Yikes! I’m thinking if you see Paula, it’s time to change the channel…fast!

And here’s why…

Trick — no treat

At their best, most type 2 diabetes drugs can only trick the pancreas into functioning normally. And that trick always comes with consequences.

I understand how frightening a type 2 diagnosis can be. So I don’t blame any patient for wanting to bring their health back in line with a daily pill.

But Victoza users are in real danger. And they have been from the start.

This drug showed up on my radar years ago. In fact, I sent you the first warning about Victoza before the FDA approved it. Now, four years later, Victoza has racked up numerous warnings — from me, and many others.

But the newest evidence is devastating. And it affects millions of type 2 diabetics. That’s because this time it’s not just Victoza.

A new study in the journal Diabetes implicates more than a dozen drugs in the same class as Victoza. Brand names include Byetta, Nesina, and Januvia.

UCLA researchers found that these drugs — called incretin mimetics — might sharply increase your risk of pancreatitis. They may also prompt precancerous activity in the pancreas.

And now here’s the insanity… None of this is new to the FDA. The agency previously warned that postmarketing reports about these drugs include “fatal and serious nonfatal cases” of acute pancreatitis.

Agency officials say they’re reviewing this new evidence. Patients are dying. They have been for years. And the FDA is busy “reviewing.”

And what can we expect from this review? The Avandia experience might give us a tip. Evidence clearly linked the T2 drug Avandia to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. So the agency restricted its use. It’s still on the market, of course.

If you struggle with type 2, you can usually restore normal pancreas function by making the right dietary changes. They might not be easy but they also don’t increase your risk of cancer, heart attack or premature death. You can find more information about the specific diet at this link.

Sources:
“Marked Expansion of Exocrine and Endocrine Pancreas with Incretin Therapy in Humans with increased Exocrine Pancreas Dysplasia and the potential for Glucagon-producing Neuroendocrine Tumors”Diabetes, Published online ahead of print 3/22/13, diabetes.diabetesjournals.org

“EU Will Study Risks of Incretin Mimetics for Diabetes”Robert Lowes, Medscape, 3/27/13, medscape.com

“FDA investigating reports of possible increased risk of pancreatitis and pre-cancerous findings of the pancreas from incretin mimetic drugs for type 2 diabetes”FDA Drug Safety Communication, 3/14/13, fda.gov