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Byetta with other Meds

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Posted 3/3/2012 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Byetta for 6 years and my old Endo said to take my other diabetic meds 2 hours after the injection. Now my new Endo tells me to take my other Diabetic meds 15 minutes after I inject Byetta. After a month now my sugar levels are about 15% to 20% higher doing it this new way. I can find NO definitive info on which is the right way to go. Common sense tells me that the pills should be an hour after the inject BUT my new Endo is world class.  HELP !  Craig
Posted 3/4/2012 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Craig, I don't take diabetes meds so I don't know from experience.  I looked all over online for information about this and can't find any either, just that byetta is normally administered about an hour before breakfast and dinner.  It seems to me if your blood sugar is running that much higher with this new schedule that your endo would tell you to go back to your old schedule.  I guess if it were me, I'd ask my new Endo what benefit he sees in having my blood sugar that much higher when the whole goal is to keep it lower or at least nearest to normal.  Having higher blood sugar defeats any goals! 

confused

Posted 3/4/2012 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
Byetta is good; Victoza is better for me. 12 mcg within one hour before or after a meal in morning and 6 mcg in late afternoon immediately after eating has enabled me to remove the Amaryl completely, with my internist's permission.

I do not like the sulfonylureas as a treatment for diabetes and think Victoza is capable of managing the illness provided one doesn't have a severe case of Diabetes. The reason that Victoza is a better product, in my view, is that it is a human source; Byetta is derived from gila monster saliva. I had trouble taking Byetta--nausea--not with Victoza.

I don't see the need at all to take an additional medication with the injection, certainly not within 15 minutes, but each endocrinologist has his special way of wanting you to administer the injection and other medications. It's best that you follow his advice until you can show him that you do not need to alter his method.

Your diet controls will have a lot to do with your success in managing your glucose levels. (Molybdenum, a trace mineral, helps me if I've had too much sulfur in my diet--see foods high in thiols to learn which are ones you might wish to avoid--for example, sugar is high on some lists; so are chocolate, eggs,milk and all cheese products and many, many others.)

I'm not a doctor and can tell you what has worked for me alone.

Good wishes,

It's Genetic

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 3/7/2012 12:16:16 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/4/2012 4:51 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Lanie, I don't know why the info is not available, anywhere, the new Endo said that the orals would work more aggressively with the Byetta in the 15 minute window. I will call his nurse and tell her where I'm at and get his input. My diet is good and constant particularly because I've developed Esophageal Spasms I can only eat egg whites, low carb bread and bran cereal (very high fibre) with soy milk-- every day, what a thrill. Thanks for your valued input and your taking the time for all of our frustrated moaning and groaning.

And thank you Genetics. I will look into Victoza. It's never come up but if it can work better I'd certainly want to try it. Sometimes I think some Docs prescribe based on where their 401k is invested, just kidding, I think. And thanks for mentioning chocolate. I haven't had any for years but it's my greates weakness. My cardio told me that dark chocolate only is extremely good for the heart. If I can only get that confirmed I may just pig-out for a while. Thank you for the input and your taking your time for me.

Craig 

Posted 3/4/2012 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Craig, it must have to do with how the Byetta affects the other medications.  I saw on WebMD that if you are taking Byetta SubQ that you need to take antibiotics and birth control pills an hour before the Byetta.  (I don't think you have to worry about taking birth control pills!  devil )  That's all the info I could find.

 

You might want to call the doctor and let them know what is happening and that your body reacted better when you took the medication 2 hours after the Byetta.  Everyone is different and their bodies can react differently.  I sure don't think your new doctor wants you to have higher blood sugars doing it his way.

 

Sherrine

Posted 3/4/2012 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Sherrine, I agree with you and I know this Dr. only wants the best for me. I'll communicate fully and listen carefully to his expertise.

You don't happen to have expertise in Tinnitus do you. I read your specialties and didn't know if the inner ear disease and tinnitus might have some correlation. Although I've had Tinnitus for 30 years it is getting louder and louder now and I can find no relief.

Thanks again, Craig

ps I will take birth control pills if it will help anything but I'll have to find some newe fire for the furnace.

Posted 3/4/2012 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
Craig, if you keep a daily log of your blood sugar throughout the day and what you're eating and the times of your meds, you can show your doctor how your blood sugar behaves.  I would think the goal would be better blood sugar and if the previous way worked better, the endo might reconsider how/when you take your meds.  All these work differently and when used together can make a difference in your daily average.  Some of them help you absorb insulin better and use it more effectively, etc. 

Tinnitus has different causes and it's really annoying.  I suffered for years with it.  Environment and even meds can cause it.  Long term and high use of aspirin can also cause it.  It did turn out for me that I was losing my hearing and I now wear hearing aids.  I've read that hearing loss sometimes accompanies diabetes as the nerves in the ear lose their senses just as some diabetics have neuropathy in their feet.  Both diabetes and hearing loss occur on my mother's side of the family.  There are even hearing aids made specially for tinnitus.  You could see an ENT first for an ear exam and then perhaps have a hearing test.

Posted 3/4/2012 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Craig, Lanie gave you good advice.  My hearing loss is an auto immune problem.  My body attacks itself and destroys the nerve endings in my ears.  This is rare so you probably don't have to worry about it..especially since the tinnitis has been going on for years for you.  Some medications and also some illnesses have tinnitus as symptoms.  Many people with fibromyalgia have tinnitus.  If you notice any difference as to how you are hearing, be sure to get a good ENT doctor to check you out. 

 

Here is a link from the Mayo Clinic about tinnitus and it probably will answer all your questions.

 

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tinnitus/DS00365/DSECTION=causes

 

Keeping a log as Lanie suggested is an excellent idea...for whatever illness you have.  I'm a mod on the fibro forum and I have members doing that too.  It really helps doctors understand better how your body reacts to medications and also exercise because we are all so different.  Some diabetic medications that many take...metformin or Actos....I can't take at all.  We are all so different so I just bet your doctor will listen to you because you both want the same results....lower blood sugars.

 

Sherrine

Posted 3/4/2012 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the great input. I do keep intense logs on sugar levels but the swing of medication results compounded by byetta is almost a pure guess as to what to do tomorrow. I've been a type 2 for 30 years with my A1c 6.0 to 6.5 but also try to be as aggressive as possible.
I've tried everything with my hearing specialist about the tinnitus and I've lost the high ranges in hearing that he says the brain fills up with the high pitch ringing 24/7. The only relief is in a really loud theatre and driving at high speeds. Both totally muffle it. The aids didn't stop any ringing. I just need to keep exploring.
But the worst of the worst are the esoph. spasms. The most painful, debilitating thing ever that at least I can take Nitrostat to alleviate but certainly not cure. But at age 63, 4 healthy kids, 1 phenominal grandson, how can I complain (except to you great folks here, helping and giving us hope.!) Craig
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