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

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

[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.

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!

Re:Superficial Application?

[fehlschlag]

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

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

Mozilla...

[stu_coates]

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

Sorry!

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!

I dunno...

[peacefinder]

Sounds like snake oil to me.

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.