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!

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.