Susan,

My experience with Diovan was that for the first couple months I took it, it
had a very dramatic effect on my insulin resistance.  My blood sugar didn't
rise as high when I did eat carbs, and when I was low carbing, the weight
started coming off slow and steadily for six months. I'd actually restarted
low carbing about a month  earlier, but after the initial water weight loss,
I didn't lose anything.  But once I started the Diovan--down went the
weight.

Another side effect I noticed early on was that I was much, much calmer. For
example, when driving on icy roads, I felt ridiculously unworried, which is
very atypical for me.  I assume that this has something to do with
downregulating naturally produced cortisol which would also tie in with
decreased blood sugar.

Eventually I developed a problem where my blood pressure goes way too low
when I take it, but eventually becomes too high a few weeks after I
discontinue it.  Right now I'm back to taking it on alternate days, but I
need to talk to my doctor about it (he's been hard to reach lately as he's
only working half time at his practice. <sigh>)  I'm on the lowest dose.

-- Jenny  - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes,
hba1c 5.2.
Cut the carbs to respond to my  email address!

Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes,
strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at
http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/

Looking for help controlling your blood sugar?
Visit  http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/Newly%20Diagnosed.htm