Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Victoza, weight loss, diabetes, surgery



Recommended Posts

Hi all,

I am thrilled to be making the first post on this new forum!

I take Victoza for diabetes 2 with one of the side effects being weight loss. It is a once daily subcutaneous shot in the stomach. You really can't feel it since the needles are sooo small. It comes in pens where you just dial out the dose. It is prescribed for diabetes mostly but I believe I have heard of doctors prescribing it for weight loss, but I am not sure on that.

Yes, Victoza is someone effective for gradual weight loss and maintaining. It doesn't have the 'tension' that phentermine can give but phentermine is faster. The doctors gave me permission to combine the two but I haven't done it yet. The reason I haven't is that I have decided to get the sleeve surgery. It is my understanding that the sleeve will (hopefully and likely) put diabetes in remission. From my understanding, even if I were to lose all the weight without surgery, and somehow keep it off (unlikely), it would still not really be a 'cure' for diabetes like the sleeve is. This is supposedly due to the sleeve making some kind of hormonal changes that are not fully understood yet.

So, while victoza has been great in managing my sugar numbers, and has been ok but slow in weight loss and maintenance, it isn't quite enough for a diabetic.

Edited by Travelmego

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

There is no guarantee the surgery will cure Type II, however, it does a hell of a job getting rid of insulin resistance! So if you maintain the post-sleeve diet and keep your carbs reasonable, your body should have no problems pumping out the right amount of insulin.

I am Type I (autoimmune) but I had a lot of insulin resistance as well. I may have been a Type I /Type II hybrid. At any rate, now that the insulin resistance is gone, my blood glucose levels are far easier to control. What a relief!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Victoza side effect being weight loss.

@@Travelmego

I was taken off all diabetic meds after surgery, and things are/have been going great

but last time i had my HG1 (don't remember if thats the right acronym :wacko: )

my sugar was 6.5 which doc (or me) weren't thrilled about :wacko:

its not terrible, but higher than we like :wacko:

hopefully it will get better, "but" maybe i will ask doc what his opinion on me taking the Victoza

it would help lower the sugar again, and if i could benefit alittle helping my weight, that would be great too :)

thanx for reminding me about the Victoza - i'm gonna talk to my doc :)

good luck

kathy

Edited by proudgrammy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@Teachamy @proudgrammy I do wonder if the 'cure' by the sleeve is really more about calorie/carb restriction than an actual change in the gut. if calories/carbs are reduced, then naturally the insulin you are able to produce would be enough. This could also account for why people are able to get off meds so quickly after surgery - even before massive weight loss. However, I have read that they think it might be an actual gut hormonal (or something) change. I'm kind hoping for a gut change which says more 'cure' to me than just merely sticking to your diet. What do you all think? How does it change insulin resistance?

Proundgranny - 6.5 isn't too bad. A lot of people would be thrilled with that. I understand wanting to be in the 5's or less. My last a1c was 6.0 on victoza and I did cheat a bit. I also take 2000 metformin extended release 1 time a day. I can't stand taking medicine more than one time a day because I always end up forgetting and do terribly on that schedule.

Edited by Travelmego

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm also a diabetes and have been for 10 years recently my blood sugars got bad they put me 5 different diabetes medicine and my numbers were bad my cpap tie 1.5 A1C was 12.8 happy to say now I only take victoza Cap tie 5 and A1c 6.5 the weight is not coming off as fast as I would like it but I do see results and I believe that Victoza woks

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am a type 2 insulin dependent diabetic & have been taking Victoza for several years. It helped me reduce the amount of insulin I needed by about half & helped me lose a little weight. I am 1 week post op for RNY surgery & have stopped Victoza completely. Victoza effects the speed of food moving thru the digestive system, actually slows it down. My dtr recommended that I stop it post surgery. Hope I don't have to take it again since I am gradually reducing insulin I am taking.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am a weeks out to surgery and use Victoza. I was using Victoza for insulin resistance and to work my way toward using Saxenda, which is Victoza but with higher dosages and was just FDA approved for weight loss. I meet with my endocrinologist the day before I start my pre-op diet and will find out more then.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Update Update Victoza

A1C

March 2015

4.0 :)

off victoza, and other diabetes meds

woo hoo

party dance party dance :)

kathy

Edited by proudgrammy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

As an update, I have stopped my victoza as per doctors orders to allow the sleeve to do it own work.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×