Just thought I’d update you all and report that my blood suger levels are continuing to be within the normal range of 4-6 ( which has not happened in over 7 years regardless of what medications I was on).
Regarding the weight loss front, I would definately say that Victoza is not a magic pill, it is a tool that can help you loss weight if you modify your diet and change your lifestyle by getting active. Since the New year, I have lost an addtional 6 pounds for a total weight loss of -18 pounds down. Sure, I still have 62 more pounds before hitting my goal…but, slow and steady wins the race. Those of us taking V with the hopes of losing weight, “we can do this”. Please keep posting your results and lets inspire each other to cross our individual finish lines together!
I agree totally with your comments. Victoza is a wonderful tool to help us meet our goals but still requires some work on our part. Since starting my blood sugars are steadily between 4-6 unless I eat something that I know I shouldn’t…My A1C has dropped .02. As for the weight loss, I lost 10 pounds and now it has definitely plateaued and the appetite is back. I have now started portion control and am trying to get more exercise…hopefully that will start the weight loss again but if it only stays steady, I will be happy with that because I never could have lost the 10 pounds on my own.
I started Victoza October 24th. It really suppressed my appetite for about a month and a half. Then my appetite came back larger than ever. Sure confused me. I had given up pork and beef and substituted tomatoes and other veggies. Now I need beef like crazy and other things at night which are surelybad, like an extra 6 Saltines, sometimes with a tiny piece of cheese. Also, my sugar, which was down to 230 usually, and once (a mistake I think) 101. Now my sugar is back up there…270, and the Victoza is not working. My Dr. is talking insulin, but I thought Type 11 didn’t use insulin. Does anybody know? My Dr hasn’t suggested upping Victoza because there’s a history of cancer in my family and I got bad stomachaches and nausea on it. I hope this adds to our info…Thanks, Barbara
Sorry to hear Victoza isnt working as good. I have found that I have periods where it works for awhile and then it doesn’t. Be aware though too like any drug on some people it does little if anything. I got headaches at a higher dose too. I only got nausea if I went low while taking it. There is some stimulation too on your pancreas if you take Victoza in some people. You might want to give it some time.
Eating the right foods is as important as any medication you take too. I assume you are very low carb as a Type 2.
Are you on max dose of Metformin? MAX dose has helped me too with the Victoza.
Many in the Type 2 community take insulin. This is not something to be worried about. Many have lost a good portion of their insulin production and eventually move onto insulin. I myself am very insulin deficient and know I need it at times. I would talk again with your Dr and ask to be put on it to help your BG control. Your very high at these levels and need to get it down. Your doing damage to your body and should shoot for on your first goal to be at least below 120 on your fastings. Would recommend really reading up on insulin too. I found Using Insulin very helpful, geared more to T-1’s but it was a help none the less.
As a T-2 you need to know that the less insulin you can get by with and accomplish your goals the better. Otherwise you will just pack on more weight because as you know insulin helps you build fat.
Kelly, I have found the same experiences. I didn’t keep the pen I was using in the fridge but by my bed to remember to take it. By the last week it seemed not as “strong” but when I got a new pen from fridge I started with mild side effects and no appetite. Glad you mentioned this. I thought it was my imagination.
Hmm, hadn’t thought about that but I accidentally left mine out overnight one night after taking my dose. Shortly after, I noticed it didn’t seem to be working as well. I hadn’t put 2 and 2 together. I thought it was maybe the change in needle brands, but that didn’t prove to be it.
My doctor said that it was fine keeping in the fridge (don’t freeze) or keeping our at room temperature for 30 days. However, I’m still continuing with good result after keeping the pen in the fridge after opening. I’m down 28lbs now. I still have another 15-20lbs to go. My dosage was increased to 1.2mg after my weight didn’t move after 2 weeks. I’ve had a steady decrease ever since. I know I’m one that egarly looks at the scale every day to see the changes, but weight loss can fluctuate, which is normal. I’m still holding to a fairly strict low carb diet, 1,200cal & around 50g of carbs daily. I’ve been feeling great, no spikes in my sugar levels, blood pressure or migraines since starting in November! Best of Luck :o)
For the first month or two I was okay, but sadly my numbers haven’t been so great lately - I’m the kind of person who can’t eat just one biscuit - I tried these new Belvita breakfast biscuits - they come in six batches of 4 biscuits and only contain 3% of your GDA of sugar and they’re supposed to fill you up for 4 hours - I liked them so much I ate 4 batches in one evening, so Victoza has done absolutely nothing for the snacking control! Also, I was starting to have problems finding a place to inject, so I’ve been to the Diabetic clinic this morning, and I’m coming off Victoza and going onto a little number called Actos (Pioglitazone). The Diabetic nurse recommended fruit cake instead of biscuits, so I’ll give that a try - and also if it isn’t in your cupboard, you can’t eat it, so don’t buy it, end of!
So, as the great man once said, goodbye everybody, I’ve got to goooooooooo!
After a promising start last November, the numbers just weren’t coming down quick enough, and also I was having problems injecting as the previous sites were firming up, so in March/April the diabetic nurse took me off Victoza and started me on Actos instead. They only let you stay on the trial for 6 months over here, as it’s a rather expensive drug. Hey-ho, back to the drawing board!
What i do not understand is i have been on victoza for 3 months along with humalog 12 units before each meal. My readings are much better then before victoza has helped.But i have only loss about 13 lbs.i can not loose any more weight.I eat 1/3 of what i use to which was not that much anyway.Still have high readings 150,180 The Doc wants bee to quit the insulin and go on glumetza.but my stomach stills bother me from the victoza.seems to me it would be worst.I need to speak to him next month.
I lost 15-20 over the first few months but haven’t lost any more. Victoza still helps with my BG but doesn’t help as much with my appetite now that I’ve been on it a while. I have found that the only time it makes me a bit nauseous is if I take it too close before a meal. If I take it at 3pm or at bedtime, it’s no problem.
That happened to me too. I started at the low dosage for a week, changed to the mid dosage for a week and then I did the largest dosage and nothing, didn’t help at all, it basically made me hungrier. I gradually got back on the mid dosage and it seems to help with the feeling full, but I still get hungry after eating.
I’ve been on Victoza for 15 months. The hunger suppression has largely disappeared. Initially my weight dropped about 7 pounds, but it came back, plus a few more. Now I’m concerned that the basic purpose of glucose control is slipping as well. My inital A1Cs, were excellent, 6.1 for a few periods, then 6.4. Now my morning readings are much higher in the 160s vice the 110s. Has anyone else seen such an effect after extended use.
I'm now on Actos which really seems to be doing the trick, but Victoza did have one advantage - whenever I have to have an injection at the dentist's, I don't even flinch any more! I must have got used to injections with that fine needle.
Wow, good point about keeping the Victoza in the fridge. I never thought about that. I sort of thought that mine was not working as well as it used to. As of today, I will be keeping mine in the fridge and see how that works for me.
I've been on Victoza for a few months and just noticed the past 2 weeks that my sugar levels are creeping back up. I am Type 1 and 2 and severely insulin resistant. This was a "miracle" drug for me for the first 2 months. Without changing much my levels dropped, my daily insulin needs dropped and I lost 10+ pounds. I can't begin to tell you how happy I was!! I am on 1.2 daily, injecting in the morning. The samples my dr. gave me are about to run out and my insurance doesn't cover this due to my Type 1 ... so I am about to plunk down money. Has anyone seen this happen and then rebound or did it just gradually lose effectiveness altogether??
I too found victoza to be brilliant during the first 9 months then my appetite slowly came back and I started to gain weight 2 months ago my doctor changed my victoza to a new drud bydureon you only take it once a week but you do have to mix the drug with a solution a fixer and getting this right is not the easiest of tasks having my Angel to sort it out for me has taken the streesa way this is my 5th week on the drug no side affects to speak of going to the toilet was a problem but it seems to have seeled down now
It does seem to lose some effectiveness over time. However, you may still be benefiting. I've been on it over a year and there is a difference in my insulin requirements and blood glucose peaks when I miss a dose. I am on BCBS and they did not cover Victoza for Type 1. My doctor wrote a letter after I had tried samples along with test results and asked them for an exception. They covered it. They will review each year with my doctor to see if they will extend the coverage for the next year.
what time do you find is best? I have been taking it at noon since I also take metformin 1,000 mg am and pm…the Dr. said it really doesn’t matter when to take it since it is time released
