Lizard Spit Helps Control Blood Sugar

m0smithslash writes "Over on Yahoo there is an article, Lizard Spit Drug Controls Diabetes, Cuts Weight which describes how 'Exenatide, an experimental diabetes drug derived from lizard saliva, not only controls patients' blood sugar levels but also cuts their weight.' I always thought it would be cool to have a pet lizard, and a vemonous one would be even better. Maybe I could save a lot of money on medications by just letting it bite me every so often. Of course here would also be a good place to put a plug in for not letting species go extinct."

Comments

Superficial Application?

[Kenterlogic]

Is it possible that there could be a sudden rush to buy up lizard spit as a lose weight fast scheme? I'm a bit on the heavy side (that's a conservative estimate) and weight reducing lizard spit sounds damn good to me. Who else?

Re:Superficial Application?

[fehlschlag]

The gross-out of even thinking of lizard spit in my mouth is curbing my appetite.

Re:Superficial Application?

[Anonymous Coward]

Um... you could also have your doctor check to see if you have hyperinsulinemia, which is very common among people who are carrying extra weight, and which makes it fairly difficult to lose weight. If this is the case, then you could take medication (such as metformin) to correct this, which would help you lose weight... Oh, and one of the side effects of metformin is nausea, which also tends to make people taking it lose weight.

That sounds better to me than lizard spit--seing as there are plenty of medications on the market currently for type II diabetes, but medications based on lizard spit will take years to get to the market if they ever prove to be effective and cost-efficient.

Another Cure from a Poison

[4of12]

So much of what makes life interesting (spices, like cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.) are poisonous defenses that various plants have built up to protect themselves from insects and other animals.

This development reminds me of earlier uses for snake venom, which, used carefully, can help treat various ailments.

Likewise capsacin, that can be used as a topical anesthesia.

If you're looking to preserve food, treat pain, create hallucinations, and cure illness, look at the poisons!

Re: Another Cure from a Poison

[Anonymous Coward]

Mmmm... Nutmeg

Re:Another Cure from a Poison

[skaffen42]

Likewise capsacin, that can be used as a topical anesthesia.

Personally I want to know what bright spark thought up that idea.

I once pulled a groin muscle playing raquetball. Went to the drugstore and of all the analgesic creams the capsicum based one was the most expensive. I figured that being the most expensive it obviously had to be the most effective as well.

I learned two things that day.

First, capsicum applied topically behaves the same as when you ingest it. At first you don't feel a thing. So you try a bit more. Still nothing. So you try even more. Then, when you have passed the point of no return, the burn starts. And gets worse. And worse. And worse...

Second, capsicum and the groin are two things that simply should not be combined. You can figure out the details for yourself.

I mean, it worked. I completely forgot about the muscle pain. I had much more interesing pains to worry about for the next few hours.

Re:Another Cure from a Poison

[Idarubicin]

I mean, it worked. I completely forgot about the muscle pain. I had much more interesing pains to worry about for the next few hours.

Actually, this is (sort of) exactly the mechanism by which capsaicin based topical treatments operate.

The neuronal mechanism is as follows: capsaicin depletes substance P, a neuropeptide, from a specific type of sensory neuron (nerve cell). When capsaicin is first applied to the skin, it causes release of substance P, which leads to redness and a burning sensation. However, if capsaicin is applied regularly, the cumulative exposure to capsaicin depletes substance P and desensitizes the sensory neurons. Eventually the neurons become inactive, and pain sensation is reduced.

Link to source.

In other words, you suffer a bit when you apply the compound, but eventually some of the chemicals responsible for the pain sensation are depleted, and the pain goes away.

To be effective, one must apply regular moderate doses of the capsaicin preparation, to continuously deplete the stores of substance P in the treated area. Otherwise, you're back to the burning sensation when you reapply at long intervals.

As a Type I diabetic...

[devphil]

...I for one welcome our new lizard-based pharmacueticals!

Until now, I've always need coffee to wake me in the morning, plus taking an injection of insulin. Now I can become wide awake and manage the blood sugar at the same time!

[P stumbles groggily into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from his eyes.]
P: *mumble*
[As his arm brushes the kitchen counter, a LIZARD darts forward and bits him.]
LIZARD: *snap*
P: *mumb*-GAAAAAAH! What the FUCK was th- oh, the lizard. Right.

Re:As a Type I diabetic...

[Tumbleweed]

> As a Type I diabetic...

Sucks to be you; the article says it's for type IIs, like me.

Type 2s Rule, Type 1s Drool... :)

Hey, here's a thought, maybe they should call it 'GlucoGilaPhage'. GGP!

Only for type 2?

[KMAPSRULE]

The article says that the treatment is for type 2 Diabetics, I wonder if a type 1 diabetic like me could use the Lizard spit to take less injections, for example I take a Large dose of the Lantus 24 hour insulin to keep my base insulin levels up and I take humalog at meals, maybee I could replace the lantus dose with the Lizard spit derivative. Iether that or I just get a pet lizard and let it bite me on a daily basis and see how it goes ;)

Venomous Lizards? Not likely.

[TheWanderingHermit]

...and a vemonous one would be even better.

There are only 2 lizards with venom that is harmful to humans: the Gila Monster and it's cousin, the Mexican Beaded Lizard. They look similar. They have grooves in their teeth and when they byte, they grab onto their prey and shake it back and forth. This helps the venom slide down along the grooves in their teeth and into the wound.

If you really want a lizard that can byte, go for the Komodo Dragon. Of course, they can be over 10 ft long and might bite off parts of your body, but they're not venomous.

I live where the summers are hot and humid (Richmond, VA) and used to keep anoles (Anolis Carolinius, I think was the right name -- also called the American Chameleon) and during the summer, my family would let them out on the screen porch. They'd stay there the full summer, usually on the screens, but sleeping on the potted plants. We'd often see them when they saw a fly and would run up and grab it for a meal.

The perfect martini

[Artie_Effim]

Lizzard spit and gin, and now that it's good for you, all the better.

Re:Venomous Lizards? Not likely.

[elmegil]

When my wife mentioned this to me last night she noted that they were talking about Gila Monster spit. So yes, Venemous Lizards.

Bite? No...

[jpop32]

Maybe I could save a lot of money on medications by just letting it bite me every so often.

No, no need for pain. You just have to french kiss him once in a while.

Mmmm.......Doughnuts

[Wvyern]

So.... if I can inject the Gila Monster spit directly into my doughnuts, would I end up with an anorexic piece of cardboard flavored dough? That would be healthy, but tasteless, kinda like the whole concept of injecting lizard spit into anything other than lizard food IMHO.

Re:Venomous Lizards? Not likely.

[Otter]

Komodo dragons aren't venomous, but they cultivate some horrible bacteria in their mouths (IIRC, their teeth are grooved to provide a better growth surface) so their bites are incredibly infectious. Their prey routinely die within a day or two if the dragon doesn't kill them outright. In the documentaries, you'll frequently see huge gobs of slime hangin out of their mouths.

My mind still boggles at the story of Sharon Stone's husband: Honey, I got you a birthday present! Get in the cage with that dinosaur! Oh, and take your shoes off first!

About time

[Sandman1971]

Make fun of lizard spit all you want, but this is welcomed news to those of us with Type II diabetes. It seems like most diabetes research (and current breakthrus) have revolved around Type1 diabetes. I for one am glad to see some development in this area. I do wish the article had more information though (but can't expect much from a Yahoo article). Does this mean with these injections, someone suffering from Type2 diabetes can go back and eat normal food? You don't know how much such an ailment can affect you. Not being able to drink a good Coke, or munch on a scrumptious chocolate bar (I was a chocoholic before being diagnosed with diabetes). Enquiring minds wanna know

Re:About time

[m0smithslash]

There is more info on Exendin at http://www.glucagon.com/exendin.htm. It seems to effect GLP-1. Unfortunately, I do not know much about diabetes yet, having been recently diagnosed. I have been taking the diabetic education classes and learing all about the carbs and glucose and how evil chocolate is. I was a chocohalic myself. I wonder how much that contributed to my current condition.

Re:About time

[Idarubicin]

Not being able to drink a good Coke, or munch on a scrumptious chocolate bar (I was a chocoholic before being diagnosed with diabetes).

That's a real bummer--not only is chocolate delicious, it can also lower blood pressure.

Mozilla...

[stu_coates]

...the browser of choice for diabetics! ;-)

Sorry!

Oral-dermal delivery probably a bad idea

[PateraSilk]

Gila monster bites can be lethal, folks, so let's not rush out to our local herpeton store just yet.

(Of course I realize all the above posts were funny, but I thought I'd state the obvious.)

Which brings up a point--when you isolate the chemical and purify it, how many liters of lizard saliva do you need for one dose? Maybe lizard ranching could be a growth industry!

Re:Oral-dermal delivery probably a bad idea

[TCQuad]

Maybe lizard ranching could be a growth industry!

Finally, a practical application for Pavlov's experiment!

Re:Oral-dermal delivery probably a bad idea

[Anonymous Coward]

Which brings up a point--when you isolate the chemical and purify it, how many liters of lizard saliva do you need for one dose? Maybe lizard ranching could be a growth industry!

As enjoyable as that imagery is, Exenatide (aka Exendin-4) is synthesized in a chemistry lab. Boring, but a lot easier on the workers.

Re:Oral-dermal delivery probably a bad idea

[mrbuttle]

I could find no documentation of fatlities from gila monster bites, but here's some extracts from FAQ: Venomous Critters

....They are slow and torpid animals. Since it's virtually impossible to be bitten without picking the animal up, don't pick up any Gila monsters.

Their delivery of venom depends on how long they can hang on and chew. If you can get their jaws pried open and take your hand out of the lizard's mouth, chances are that little venom will enter your system. Trying to shake the lizard off won't work well. Place it on the ground and pry its jaw open with a stick, knife, or other tool. Some people suggest holding a flame beneath its jaw or submerging it in water, or even squirting lighter fluid on its snout. This last technique presents us with the possibility of someone running in circles with a flaming lizard attached to his hand. The bite is reported to produce "instant and excruciating pain."

Gila monster venom is similar to rattlesnake venom in its action. Because the venom contains fewer of the anticoagulant agents and digestive enzymes, tissue damage will be lessened or absent. Gila monster bites are rare. But the venom is highly toxic and there's no way to tell how much you received. Weakness, dizziness and shock could result. That may not be a reliable criterion, since some people grow weak and dizzy at the very thought of having a lizard attached to their hand. No human deaths resulting solely from Gila monster venom have been documented.

No antivenom exists. The most important thing the docutor can do is remove the Gila monster's teeth, which break off in the wound and cause infection. A tetanus shot isn't a bad idea either. It's impossible to give this advice often enough: Don't apply ice or a tourniquet. Do remove the lizard. Do get to a hospital.

If you do happen to die from a Gila monster bite, they will probably erect a statue on the spot.

Excerpt from Men's Journal March 95

Are gators close enough?

[NanoGator]

Ready?

*SNXXXXxxxxxxxxxkkxkxkxkkxkxkxkxkxkxkx*

(Lameness Filter note: Before ya mod me as off-topic, look at my nickname.)

Re:Are gators close enough?

[Anonymous Coward]

How much can we expect to get? 1nl?

I dunno...

[peacefinder]

Sounds like snake oil to me.

Probably not

[Anonymous Coward]

In general, T1's have normal insulin sensitivity, just no (or little) insulin production. T2's generally have plenty of insulin (sometimes more than normal), just poor insulin sensitivity. This, like many T2 drugs, probably increases the sensitivity, which won't do much for a T1.

Type 2

[yet another coward]

Certainly, type 2 diabetes is a growing epidemic with huge costs for all of us. The best guard against type 2 diabetes is a healthy lifestyle. There was an interesting study a few years ago that used intensive lifestyle modification intervention for people with high risk. Diet and exercise showed big effects on who progressed to type 2 diabetes. Accomplishing such lifestyle changes on a big scale is extremely challenging, though.

After looking, the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study is the one I read about.

As for people who already have type 2 diabetes, I do not know how much such lifestyle interventions can help.

Amylin Pharmaceuticals

[radicimo]

For those interested in this, the company behind Exenatide is Amylin [NASDAQ:AMLN]. I've been invested in them for years now, and happily so. They have another diabetes drug in even later stage development, Symlin.

If you want to learn more about them or their medicines I suggest checking their website www.amylin.com or check out the Yahoo! finance msg. board. Gotta wade through the typical signal/noise ratio on Yahoo, but there are quite a few intelligent posts that make it to that board.

Mechanism?

[yet another coward]

How does the drug work? Does it increase insulin release? Does it increase insulin sensitivity? Does it reduce glucose release into the blood? The article is very lacking for basic drug information.

You're just too cynical..

[Channard]

Next thing you'll be knocking the benefits of Garnie's monkey-phlegm anti-wrinkle cream.

Tastes like tofu

[Brahmastra]

NT

God.

[Anonymous Coward]

As we can see, God has a plan for every living creature on His Earth. You can't explain it any other way. This is no "evolutionary" accident, friends, it is intentional, and I believe there are many more such hidden treasures left for us by God to discover.

how it works

[Anonymous Coward]

people are so grossed out after french kissing the lizard that they don't want to eat.

Re:Venomous Lizards? Not likely.

[floydigus]

That's right. Apparrently it is in the genetic interest of Komodo dragons as a species to increase the number of dead or dying prey animals in the environment whether or not the original predating individual benefits directly.

If you are a creationist, please ignore this post as komodo dragons, being large lizards, don't have to exist for you.

Re:Venomous Lizards? Not likely.

[Otter]

I believe, actually, the Komodo dragon stalks the wounded prey for a day or two. The infection sets in quickly enough (and it's not like they have busy schedules) that it's a practical form of attack.

Knowing you're eating lizard spit...

[WoTG]

is probably enough to make anyone loose weight.

So would a lot of things, really. Maybe that's why so many Chinese folk are skinny, those herbal shops are scary. That's not a dig, I'm mostly Chinese, and, yes, I've had most of my fair share of weird herbal remedies.

The only problem with this drug are the side

[multiplexo]

effects. After taking it and eating a meal you are seized with an uncontrollable desire to strip naked, lie belly down on a flat rock and hiss menacingly at your family and friends if they get too close to you.