Byetta

Hi Elsie,

I'm a Byetta user and saw some pretty good results but not the kind that are dramatic until I went onto the 10mcg pen.  I think a lot of the weight loss that people get from the drug is due to nausea and not being able to eat vs. the delayed stomach emptying, but this is just a suspicion on my part.  I am for the most part like you in that I suffered no side effects on 5 or on 10mcg doses.

Now for the bad news.  You really really have to make the effort, whatever it takes, to lose some of that weight.  Its keeping your blood pressure up, and your sugar numbers as well.  30lbs would have a DRAMATIC effect on the amounts of meds you have to take and the effectiveness of those very same meds......Im not criticizing, Im just giveing you the facts! 

I wish you luck with the 10mcg pen and I think you will definately see your numbers drop.  Btw, I think the sweating is a direct result of the lantus.  I used to sweat something terrible after the shots.  Once I was off the lantus, no more sweating problems. (its a reaction to the insulin, not to the brand lantus)

Warren

Hi elsie,

I guess I didn't make that clear.  I'd sweat all day and all night at different times until I stopped taking the insulin.  I tapered off the longer I was on insulin, but when I stopped the insulin, it stopped the sweating.  Hope it gets less over time for you!

Warren

Hi Sarah,

Well, the answer to your question is yes and no.  Im not a physician but I'll tell you what I've learned.  Yes you can take your byetta later as it will still work to pull down your blood sugar and this is better I feel than skipping a dose and letting your BS play up in the two hundreds until your next dose. 

NOW, why would you not want to take your Byetta later.  Well two of the most important actions of Byetta are missed if you take it when you are taking it.  The first is the retarding of stomach emptying.  If you take it 2 hours after you eat and after exercise, the delayed stomach emptying mechanism just has nothing to work on.  Secondly, Byetta is "programmed" to bring your BS back into range and then turn itself off, so to speak.  By taking it before a meal, it will work to hold your BS at normal levels instead of letting it rise very high and then retarding it as you are now doing with a 2 hour late shot.

I have taken the shot post meals lots of times, but usually within half an hour after a meal (and the Byetta does its thing just fine).

 Warren

I JUST STARTED USING BYETTA ALMOST A MONTH AGO. MY DOCTOR TOLD ME TO WAIT 1 HOUR TO AVOID THE NAUSEA AND UPSET STOMACHE. SO FAR..SO GOOD! NO SIDE EFFECTS. I'M FEELING SO GOOD AND AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 10MCG DOSAGE!

GOOD LUCK!

HAVE YOU TRIED NOT EATING FOR  AN HOUR AFTER GIVING YOURSELF THE SHOT? MY DOCTOR AND HIS SON DO THIS AND RECOMMENDED THAT I DO THE SAME. AS I SAID IN MY PREVIOUS POST..NO SIDE EFFECTS SO FAR.

AND BEING THAT YOU ARE TAKING GLUCOPHAGE YOU ARE EVEN MORE AT RISK FOR GETTING SIDE EFFECTS.

GOOD LUCK!

 

I do wait for an hour before eating, unfortunately this does not seem to help much.  My stomach is upset all morning.. seems to subside a little bit around 2:30 pm but then my next shot is given around 5 ish.  I am getting used to it, but to be honest... I wouldn't mind crawling on the couch with a good book and comforter and read all day.  Oh yeah, another side effect I am having is being cold.  This is something very new to me as I am always the one in short sleeves!  What a lifestyle change!  I am happy with the results, so I will continue as planned.  I look forward to talking with all of you!!! 

Thanks!

gail  

Hi Nandee,

I'll bet you will find that you can split your metformin over breakfast and dinner and the same with the glipizide.  AND you may be able to eliminate the Avandia alltogether.  This is the benefit that the 10mcg pen may give you, all with dropping your numbers into the 90-110 range.  Again, you may go through a nausea period but hang in there, its really really worth it!

 Warren

Hi everyone,

Got some great information from all the postings.

I am "thining" about Byetta. Been type 2 since 1998 and recntly having trouble with my numbers. Tried adding advandia to my glucophage and my numbers got worse! At my visit last night Dr suggested Byetta.

Been gathering info. ANy feed back would be welcomed!

Thanks,

JoAnne

Hi. New to this forum. Have been a diabetic for more years than I care to remember. about 3 yrs ago I became insulin dependent. I got aggressive with my insulin titration and finally got my blood sugars nailed. Doc was happy I wasn't. I was still gaining weight. I wanted to try byetta she said no because I was on insulin and it's not been tested. After much discussion I became a test subject. History of meds. Metformin 1000 mg twice a day, metformin 750 xr each night. Glipizide twice a day max dose, avadia twice a day max dose. Lantus once a day 70 units and humilog twice a day before meals 14 units each time. Calories...low carb 1200 per day, avg weight change ... up 2-3 lbs per week. So blood sugars good weight bad. Started on byetta 5mcg once a day went to sliding scale on humilog. I had nausea pretty badly and some loss of appetite. Dropped 2 lbs. Saw the doc and we changed to byetta 5mcg twice a day and dropped lantus to 50 units and i checked sugars and adjusted my insulin dose down to 40 units. Now on byetta 10 mcg bid (twice a day) and my lantus is at 30 units avandia only once  a day and I will titrate the lantus downward as my blood sugars fall. Nausea came back at 10 but will fade. Oh yeah. Also have lost 23 lbs thus far. Have more energy, Am getting sensation back in my feet and don't need two pair of socks at night to keep them warm under the 3 blankets on my legs. I have more energy and am starting at the gym. I am swimming again, riding my bike and walking my dogs (not to mention getting some work done around the house). I bought new pants one size smaller, a belt 2 sizes smaller and already on the third hole. Byetta is not approved for use with insulin, but I convinced my doc to try with me (I've been in the medical field for 23 yrs and have more than a fair knowledge of diabetes and meds) and We became aggressive in titrating everything. Oh. One last thing. My hemaglobin a1c went from 7.89 to 5.66! Most excellent!!! Sorry to be so long winded. Hope this helps some.

As with any meds and any disease it is all based upon an individual. Most diabetics are morbidly obese which contributes to their diabetes. The whole treatment/weight gain thing becomes a vicious circle. Byetta is helping to break that circle. It is a big step, but I think an important one. I works in so many ways, and seems far superior to any other class of diabetes drugs currently on the market. I believe you are doing the right thing though. Question and research before starting new drugs. Do some research on byetta on the net. Talk to others in your area about it and have a serious conversation with your dr. Do your research, write down your questions and concerns and then sit down with your dr. If he/she is unwilling to have a frank discussion with you regarding benefits/risks and to answer ALL of your questions, then it's time to find a new dr. I had a doc that just tried to throw meds at me and evade questions...so I fired him and have now found a doc I really like and have regular conversations with her regarding my health and medications. We work as a team and that is as it should be. Check out byettas web site and read all their info. Then ask, ask, ask until you are satisfied. I will say that the jump to byetta is not nearly as significant as the jump to insulin. I'm working hard to get off the insulin, and byetta is helping me to do that as well as lose weight which in turn will help control my sugar levels, my blood pressure and other health issues I have. Hope this helped. Good luck and good health!

Hi Joanne,

Byetta is UP TO 1 hour before dinner...not A MINIMUM of 1 hour before dinner.  I routinely take mine right before sitting down to eat and it works just fine.  Don't let the time thingy discourage you as you can take it even after a meal if you forget and it will still do what its supposed to do.

Warren

I've seen the nausea come in two distinct patterns.  The first is a plain old knee jerk reaction to the medication, and that will happen within the first hour of taking the medication.  The second happens if you are lucky enough to avoid the general nausea reaction.  This time, if you overload on carbs, lets say Pizza, you can sometimes suffer nausea. 

If its any help, I escaped the general reaction to the drug and have really suffered no nausea at all except for the random reaction to carb overloading.  Read the thread on painless injections here in diabetes and this should help you with how to do the injections after your training session.  When you get your needles, try to get the B&D 31g pen needles as they are by far the thinist most comfortable needles.

 Warren

JoAnne2006 said...
Thank you SO MUCH for all this information, help & support!
It is making this all a little easier to handle!
JoAnne

Hi Joanne...  boy I know exactly how you feel!  When the dr asked me to try Byetta.. and explained I would be giving myself injections 2xs a day... oh no... I just couldn't!  Well... we talked and I decided to give it a try.  I live by myself.. the first injection I sat and watched the video 3 times... decided I just can't do this.  Sat there... calmed myself down... and thought okay... lets see how much the needle hurts.  So I stood the pen up on my thigh and BAMF!  it slid right in.. painless!!!  I was scared and shaking... I pushed the top of the pen down and thought.. ohmigosh!!!  I DID IT!!!  I am on my second month and I now find giving the injections in my stomach to be easier.  I have noticed the last 2 days I am getting bruising though.

I have had nausea, after 3 weeks... it went to "queasiness".  Unfortunately, due to insurance issues I was off Byetta for 1 week... and after restarting.. I am back at square one with the nausea.  But.. the BS is down and it's worth it.  I know there is light at the end of the tunnel and the nausea will subside to queasiness. 

Good luck!!  Keep reading in here.. because I know it has helped me tremendously!!!