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What is Victoza used for
Once-daily injections of the diabetic drug Victoza (liraglutide) reduce blood sugar and cardiovascular risk. Taking Victoza stimulates beta cells in the pancreas to create more insulin, which in turn helps regulate blood sugar levels.
When combined with diet and exercise, Victoza effectively lowers blood sugar in adults and children older than 10 who have type 2 diabetes mellitus. With Victoza, those with type 2 diabetes mellitus and preexisting heart disease had a lower risk of serious cardiovascular events (ie, heart attack, stroke, or death).
What makes Victoza® stand out as a therapeutic option for type 2 diabetes?
To help control blood sugar levels in those with type 2 diabetes, doctors use injectable medications like Victoza®, which is not insulin but is used by those 10 and older.
Use with a good diet and regular exercise aids in maintaining appropriate blood sugar levels. Adults with type 2 diabetes and preexisting cardiovascular disease may take Victoza® to lessen their chances of experiencing a severe cardiovascular event like a heart attack, stroke, or even death.
Why Use Victoza?
Seventy percent of adults in the United States are overweight or obese. Heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are all prominent causes of mortality, exacerbated by obesity and excess weight. Furthermore, obesity has been linked to a higher risk of developing some cancers.
While this is frightening, there is help. Adults who are overweight or obese have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease if they lose 5-10% of their body weight through healthy eating and regular exercise.
Victoza is an analog of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone your body makes and releases after eating. A slower rate of gastric emptying aids in the regulation of blood sugar after eating. Victoza lowers glucose production in the liver and stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin in response to high blood sugar. When your body has trouble producing or utilizing insulin, your metabolism slows down, and you get diabetes.
Since Victoza is not insulin, it may be safely administered alongside several daily subcutaneous injections of long-acting insulin. It is safe to inject both medications into the same part of the body (the stomach), but you shouldn’t do it too close together.
Although Victoza was not developed with weight reduction in mind, it may help individuals cut calories and trim down according to how it works. Victoza was proven to cause weight reduction when coupled with metformin in a clinical investigation, including persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus. As part of their continuing care of diabetes, overweight people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are also encouraged to make losing weight a top priority. People with type 2 diabetes who are overweight are encouraged to make weight reduction a priority by the American Diabetes Association.
Results of Using Victoza
A study looked at 5 randomized clinical trials of liraglutide for weight control. Taking liraglutide and making other lifestyle adjustments resulted in a loss of 4-6 kg.
Metformin and Victoza led to much more weight loss in a trial of adults with obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome than either medication alone. Metformin is a medication administered for diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Saxenda is another FDA-approved prescription medication for weight reduction with the same active component as Victoza.
Quick Questions
Victoza mimics the actions of the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that is secreted after a meal. By reducing how quickly your stomach empties after eating, this strategy may assist in shedding extra pounds. Victoza lowers blood sugar levels by reducing glucose production in the liver and by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin in response to elevated blood sugar levels.
Thirty overweight women with PCOS were randomly assigned to receive either 12 weeks of metformin plus liraglutide (1.2 mg) or 12 weeks of liraglutide (3 mg) alone. Both groups lost a significant amount of weight: up to 6.1 kg (13.5 lb) in the combination group (metformin and liraglutide) and up to 10 kg (22 lb) in the liraglutide alone group.
Victoza can treat type 2 diabetes in adults and children over 10.
Victoza may be taken for as long as necessary (liraglutide). Most patients will continue taking Victoza (liraglutide) as long as they have clinically meaningful benefits and can manage the drug’s adverse effects.
After 2 weeks of using Victoza, most individuals will see a difference in their blood sugar levels (liraglutide).
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