05:48 PM PDT on Tuesday, June 6, 2006

By JEAN ENERSEN / KING 5 News

A new drug for Type 2 diabetes has an interesting side effect -- weight loss.

Some people are wondering if the new drug, Byetta, might help people who don't have diabetes lose weight, too.

Thelma Vanguardia lost 15 pounds in less than two months.

KING

Thelma Vanguardia lost 15 pounds in less than two months.

"I'm not trying to do anything," Vanguardia said.

She attributes her weight loss to the drug Byetta.

"I think it has really deadened my appetite," Vanguardia said.

Byetta is based on a hormone found in the saliva of the gila monster lizard.

Dr. Michelle Magee, director of the MedStar Diabetes Institute, said the drug is very exciting "because it's addressing treating diabetes in a way that we haven't been able to in the past."

Byetta helps the body make insulin, and is used with other medications to control blood sugar.

"It actually promotes that feeling of fullness after you eat and regulates how much you are eating, which is one of the problems underlying Type 2 diabetes," Magee said.

The weight loss triggered by Byetta is a bonus for diabetics because losing weight can help reduce the risk of complications associated with the disease.

Some doctors are wondering if Byetta could help with another health threat -- obesity.

Dr. Arthur Frank of the George Washington University Weight Management Program said he is considering Byetta for patients who don't have diabetes. However, there are questions that first must be answered, Frank said.

"How do we go about using it in non-diabetics? Can we justify using it in non-diabetics?" Frank said. "Ideally, I'd like to be patient and wait for more data to be published," he added.

Byetta can only be given by injection, however.

Another drawback: Byetta is expensive. Insurance usually covers the cost when it's prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, but not for people simply trying to lose weight.

It is not yet FDA-approved for weight loss.