RedScrubs
The Resource for Medical Professionals

Byetta is an injectable drug that has been prescribed mostly for type 2 diabetics with a weight problem. Because it can be taken along with a sulfonylurea or a thiazolidinedione, Byetta can be added to an existing drug regimen as needed. Not only does Byetta regulate insulin and glucose production, but it also slows the emptying of the stomach (so you feel fuller longer), and it reduces your appetite causing you to eat less. People taking Byetta have good luck with weight loss and better blood glucose control.
Unfortunately, there have been many cases of pancreatitis reported with the use of Byetta, as well as reported deaths, and as a result, the FDA is considering a black box warning for its label.
Folks, it looks like this drug is headed for the trash can. Well, overweight type 2 diabetics could always use exercise and a stringent diet to shed those life-sucking pounds. How many times does it need to be said: Proper diet and regular exercise are critical for a long and healthy life. The short-cuts just don’t work.

When blood sugars run high, a process known as protein glycation occurs where the sugar bonds with proteins to form advanced glycation end products (AGE). These compounds activate the immune system resulting in inflammation and tissue damage that is so much associated with the aging process and the disease of diabetes.

Researchers from the University of Georgia (UGA) found a strong and direct correlation between the phenol content of common herbs and spices and the ability of the AGE compounds to form. Spices such as cinnamon and cloves had high phenol levels. Blueberries were also high on the list. Researchers stated that consuming a variety of spices was probably the best approach to kicking AGE formation since everyone responds differently to phenols (i.e. absorption, response rate, etc).

Because the rate of diabetes is increasing so rapidly, the need for education exceeds the number of health professionals available to provide such education. In response to this need, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has implemented a website that provides curriculum for both Type I and Type II diabetics. This website is similar to the highly successful American Diabetes Association (ADA) accredited teaching program curriculum presented to thousands of patients at UCSF over the past 30 years.