Byetta

Hello Prosper, wecome to the HW. I have been diabetic 10 plus years and i still struggle. I take Humalog 75/25 20 U am & pm. I crave sweets at times. My main health problem is heart disease and this all ties together somehow. It's a constant battle, hang in there and visit the HW often, the members here are here to help.

Prosper said...
  Hi all,

I just want to share some things which I find to be helpful.

Brioschi - an old product found in most large drug store chains and in Italian specialty stores.  It is a bit help for indigestion relief.  You just put a capsule of the white granules in a glass of water, wait until fizzing stops and drink.  It tastes like mild lemon water and gives you instant relief...not a medicine, just a great reliever.

Pepperidge Farm "Carb Style" wheat bread.  Tastes good, high fiber, soft type bread with about 5 carbs per slice! 

Hope these suggestions will help someone.

Personally I am still struggling with:

• A Doctor who doesn't know anything about this medication except what I tell him
• The fact that my appetite is still the same (I am nearing the end my first 5mcg pen)
• Morning fasting numbers which are terrible
• Today I am trying something new...using my byetta at breakfast and dinner, but take the first of my two 850 glucophage at lunchtime and the second gluco before bed with a tiny piece of something no carb like cheddar cheese.  I am hoping to improve my morning #'s and also, I really have the feeling that because the Byetta slows down everything in the stomach, that by taking my gluco at the same time as my Byetta, the gluco is not doing it's job.  I may be wrong, but I feel that there is no harm in trying.
• My next challenge is to convince my Doctor that I am ready to go on the 10 mcg pen after just one month.

Wish me luck and the same to ya'll.        Prosper

 

Prosper,

You and I are pretty much on the same time frame.  I just got back from my one month check-up this past week after being on the Byetta for 1 month.  My doctor said he was very proud of me and that I am doing a good job, but my numbers still aren't where they need to be.  I am now on the 10mcg pen and taking 1000mg twice a day of my metformin.  Holy smoke, my number are changing!  Also, as for the hunger, something happened to me that I almost couldn't believe.  I came home from work around 4pm, wanted something sweet so I just had a diet soda.  6:30pm rolls around and I still hadn't started dinner yet because I wasn't hungry.  Being a creature of habit, I just "assumed" that I ate when school let out and attributed that to my not being hungry.  Then I realized, holy crap I haven't eaten since NOON!  I was amazed, as I am usually hungry if not by 4pm, definitely by 6pm.

I think you will have some of the same results as I am, if you are put on the 10mcg pen.  Best of luck!

My wife is on Byetta and is having a very difficult time with the side effects.  My question to anyone taking byetta is are you still using insulin and what other diabetes meds are you on.

  She is still on insulin, and other meds.

Thanks Mark

 

Post Edited By Moderator (Warren) : 2/9/2006 7:47:08 AM (GMT-7)

Posted Originally by Birdsong42

Hi, my name is Donna. I have been type II diabetes for three years now. For those three years I was on 1,000 mg of Glucophage a day.

In the past few months no matter how good or bad I ate my numbers were staying in the 200's up to 270. So I went to my Dr. and we did my blood work and my A1C. My A1C was 8.2

That's when my Dr. suggested Byetta. I was a little leary at first because I am petrified of needles! After he explained to me it was as fine a needle as I use to check my sugar I decided to give it a try.

My daughter and I sat through the Byetta video twice before setting the pen up. I was so nervous! But once I did the injection I was like "Is that it!" I was so proud of myself lol.

But I love my Byetta. The first time I used it my sugar dropped to 89 Ü. I was a bit shaky as I have not seen that number in years Ü. So I ate something sweet and went up to 128. Which was fine with me.

I take the 10 mcg 2x a day and cut back on my glucophage. I take the glucophage 500 mg and the first dose of insulin in the morning and it's at a great number. So no 1.000 mg of Glucophage

Now I did feel nausated and burning from the insulin the first time I used the Byetta. But none after that. I also felt a definite decrease in my appetite and have even dropped a pants size. But I can't say that the Byetta is the whole purpose of me losing that much weight. More on that later.

I too have been very cold natured since taking the Byetta-but I can live with that. I have had no other side affects since then.

My husband has been in ICU for 9 weeks now-so I believe that has done a bit with my losing weight. But the Byetta makes me less hungry for the "Carb" and "sweet items."

I have a personal AOL journal that starts from day one what happened to my husband Mark. Start scrolloing down till you see the topic (My husband fell 36 feet) from there go up and it gives the up dates on his set backs, prayers and victories!

I pray I am not violating anything on this blog by giving you my journal page. If so please delete the last part. And I apologize for it. Below is the page. I look forward to meeting others here.



God Bless,
Donna.


===========
Donna, I removed your link, not because it's not ok to post, but because it asked for a sign-in from us and I don't think you want to post your sign-in info on a public forum. You can just tell us about your experiences. We will listen... We all have diabetes and still have to keep living whatever lives we have. Glad to meet you, but not so excited about the circumstances. ~Jeannie

Post Edited By Moderator (Jeannie143) : 2/25/2006 7:53:57 AM (GMT-7)

Hi Donna and Mark,

I moved your Byetta posts here so that we could try and consolodate a thread with people talking about Byetta.  We already have one really extensive thread but perhaps it was a good time for this new one.

Donna - the "cold" could come from low blood sugar.  I know when my blood sugar drops into the 50's or 60's using the 10mcg dose that I get cold and sometimes dizzy.  A coke usually brings me up fairly quickly.  The whole point is to adjust your orals so that that doesn't happen. I find and you may also..that is I eat a meal that is totally carb packed like a huge spaghetti dinner....Nausea can set in later.  These are the only times I ever really suffer from nausea with the Byetta.  If you warm up that pen before you inject, it should alleviate the burning sensation.  Also don't just press that button really hard, ease it down and it will put the Byetta into your injection site slower also eliminating burning.

Your blog like is certainly "ok" except that if you aren't an AOL memember with a password you can't get at it!

Mark - It is uncommon but not unheard of for someone that uses insulin such as Lantus to use Byetta.  If you are using anything but a long acting insulin, then I'd say your doctor is not prescribing correctly for you.  Typically Byetta and Insulin are not used together.  Byetta is usually used with orals and if you've embarked on Byetta and are on Lantus, your doctor might want to consider substituting orals for the lantus.  If your wife isn't seeing and Endocrinologist, it is very important that she does if she is going to continue to use Byetta.

Prosper - I think Donna mistyped as Byetta is not insulin nor is it a substitute.  It is an injectible that stimulates your body to MAKE more insulin.

 Warren

Hey Gang!!!

Okay, I started the Byetta on 1-17-06. I know I should be up to 10 by now but I am still at a 5 dose because it has taken me this long to get to an Endo. I will see him next Saturday and hopefully he can make the adjustments to all of my meds and bring me up to the 10.

I have experienced a 10 pound weight loss to date. I have never felt nauseated. And my numbers are really staying steady. I cant wait to go to the next level with this stuff.

One question I have for all of you "pros" out there is, Do you experience any bruising on your belly from the shots???? I tried the thigh but I really prefer the belly pain-wise. Am I just really horrible at giving these injections or is this just something that comes with it????

Thanks for everything

Gina

Bakersfield, Ca

 Thanks Warren,

I will give it a try. I use the same size needle that you do. I get little red spots where the needle went in and pretty soon a big huge bruise.

I am in no way complaining about this though. This stuff is amazing.

Gina

Hello all,

I'm a health reporter researching a story on Byetta.  I've read some really informative comments in this chatroom. I'm looking for someone in the Toronto area (or even Montreal, Vancouver, other major Cdn centres) who buys Byetta in the US (Buffalo for example).  I understand it is not yet approved for use in Canada.

Please contact me at [email protected] if you are a Canadian who fits this profile.  I'm hoping that giving this medication a media profile could speed up the approval process.

HealthChick

 

Hi Mjjm,

Did you keep your Byetta refrigerated??  The fact that it suddenly stopped working leads me to suspect that maybe it got contaminated and its potency was spoiled....or that your beta cells are simply shot and you really need insulin like a type 1.  60 units of Lantus a day is a HUGE amount of Lantus.  I don't know what to tell you.  I wish you the best of luck and Im sorry the Byetta didn't work for you.

Warren

 Hi,

Update time.  Well, I had used one month of 5mcg with not much result, and the first 12 days of my first 10mcg Byetta pen, were pretty much the same..the WOWSY all of a sudden I started to experience better numbers - like 112 which was a first for me, and I lost my appetite!  I don't know how long the appetite thing will last, but I will not look a gift horse in the mouth (pardon the pun).  I am not finished with this 10mcg pen, but I do hope that they are all of equal potency.  I always keep refrigerated and always inject in abdomen.  In addition to the two 10mcg pens per day, I take two metformin 850's per day.

Wishing all of us the best results.

Prosper,
I'm jealous... I wonder how much Byetta is without drug insurance coverage? Have to make some phone calls...

Hello, my name is elisejk and I just came across this site today. I'll be 50 in a few weeks. Was diagnosed with Diabetes in 1995, and it's never been under control. My A1C is under 7 but my numbers in the morning (between 4 and 6 am.) fluctuate between 130 and 190.

My job requires that I work really strange hours and sometimes I work on the weekend and don’t get much sleep.

I try to take my meds at the same time, but that doesn’t always work out.

I just started Byetta on 2/26/06.

My current meds are:

a.m.

Actos 45 mg
Quinapril 40mg
Bupropion sr 150mg
Multi vitamin
Omega 3 1000mg
80 mg Baby aspirin

I hr before lunch

Byetta 5 mcg

bupropion sr 150 mg

1 hr before dinner

Byetta 5 mcg

Before bed

Vytorin 10/20
Omeg 3 1000 mg
Fortamet ER 1000mg x 2
Lantus 21units

I was on 42 units of Lantus prior to the introduction of Byetta.

I am overweight and would welcome any weight loss.

I haven’t noticed any weight loss yet, but would welcome it as I am about 220 and 5’1”

I have never exercised to any extent. I do have a treadmill that I am going to try to use on a regular basis.

I haven’t really noticed any side effects of the Byetta.

I’m sweating pretty frequently – but I’m not sure that isn’t menopause either.

I’m supposed to switch to the 10 mcg pen after 30 days.

I have a few questions.

1) When will I noticed a drop in my numbers?
2) What happens if the pen is not refrigerated for a
number of hours? I have been trying to carry it with
me when not at home – will also be traveling a few
times in the next few weeks.