Adult-onset diabetes treatment method

The present invention relates to methods of treating adult onset diabetes by administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a lectin capable of inducing a decline in food intake and inducing hypoglycemia. The present invention also relates to methods of inducing weight loss by administering an effective amount of a lectin capable of inducing a decline in food intake and repeating the administering step to maintain the decline in food intake. In particular, the present invention relates to methods of treating adult-onset diabetes and inducing weight loss with the mixture of lectins known as pokeweed mitogen and the bitter pear melon lectin. Methods of inducing weight loss and treating adult-onset diabetes in a mammal in need thereof by administering to the mammal Momordica lectin or pokeweed mitogen chloroform precipitatable fraction. Lectin pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed.