Byetta - What it it?
Type 2 Diabetes has had me in its grip since 1994. The medications prescribed by doctors worked for varying periods of time, but then would suddenly fail to control my blood glucose levels. My weight fluctuated up and down, mostly up. The medications I took were Glipizide, Metformin, Avandia and Januvia. Last year I started hearing about the injectable medication called Byetta. People I barely knew were telling me I needed to be on Byetta when they learned of my struggle.
It is now June 2008 and I will be starting Byetta tomorrow morning, June 3, 2008. I will embark on a healthy eating plan as well, probably Weight Watchers since I'm most familiar with the plan.
What is Byetta (exenatide)? Byetta is the first of a new class of drugs called GLP-1 (glucagonlike peptide-1) mimetics approved by the FDA for Type 2 Diabetes. They are called mimetics because they mimic or imitate the way human GLP-1 works. Byetta (exenatide) is a synthetic version of exendin-4, a hormone in the saliva of the Gila monster, a lizard native to several Southwestern American states. Exendin-4 is very close in structure to human GLP-1. The Gila Monster eats everything it needs for a whole year in three or four meals. So how does it survive? Its secret is exendin-4. Byetta, the GLP-1 mimetic, was synthesized to last longer in our bodies then our own GLP-1 does. This long-lasting ability is the key to how well it works to control our blood glucose and keep us from feeling hungry.
While Byetta may lower blood glucose levels on its own, it can also be combined with other medications such as pioglitazone, metformin, sulfonylureas, and/or insulin to improve glucose control. The approved use of exenatide is with either sulfonylureas, metformin and thiazolinediones. The medication is injected subcutaneously twice per day using a pre-filled pen device. Typical human responses to exenatide include improvements in the initial rapid release of endogenous insulin, suppression of pancreatic glucagon release, delayed gastric emptying, and reduced appetite - all of which function to lower blood glucose. Unlike sulfonylureas and meglitinides, exenatide increases insulin synthesis and secretion in the presence of glucose only, lessening the risk of hypoglycemia. Byetta is also being used by some physicians to treat insulin resistance.
Anecdotal evidence is showing Byetta to be a great help in weight loss when combined with lowered calorie and carbohydrate diet.
My recommendation for those wanting to learn more about how Byetta and other diabetes medications help or hinder us in weight loss and blood glucose control is to read the book entitled, "Losing Weight With Your Diabetes Medication", by David Mendosa. It is filled with personal stories of many who have achieved blood glucose control and lost weight while on Byetta.
For more diabetes "real life" discussions, check out this link www.diabetesdiscussions.com
It is now June 2008 and I will be starting Byetta tomorrow morning, June 3, 2008. I will embark on a healthy eating plan as well, probably Weight Watchers since I'm most familiar with the plan.
What is Byetta (exenatide)? Byetta is the first of a new class of drugs called GLP-1 (glucagonlike peptide-1) mimetics approved by the FDA for Type 2 Diabetes. They are called mimetics because they mimic or imitate the way human GLP-1 works. Byetta (exenatide) is a synthetic version of exendin-4, a hormone in the saliva of the Gila monster, a lizard native to several Southwestern American states. Exendin-4 is very close in structure to human GLP-1. The Gila Monster eats everything it needs for a whole year in three or four meals. So how does it survive? Its secret is exendin-4. Byetta, the GLP-1 mimetic, was synthesized to last longer in our bodies then our own GLP-1 does. This long-lasting ability is the key to how well it works to control our blood glucose and keep us from feeling hungry.
While Byetta may lower blood glucose levels on its own, it can also be combined with other medications such as pioglitazone, metformin, sulfonylureas, and/or insulin to improve glucose control. The approved use of exenatide is with either sulfonylureas, metformin and thiazolinediones. The medication is injected subcutaneously twice per day using a pre-filled pen device. Typical human responses to exenatide include improvements in the initial rapid release of endogenous insulin, suppression of pancreatic glucagon release, delayed gastric emptying, and reduced appetite - all of which function to lower blood glucose. Unlike sulfonylureas and meglitinides, exenatide increases insulin synthesis and secretion in the presence of glucose only, lessening the risk of hypoglycemia. Byetta is also being used by some physicians to treat insulin resistance.
Anecdotal evidence is showing Byetta to be a great help in weight loss when combined with lowered calorie and carbohydrate diet.
My recommendation for those wanting to learn more about how Byetta and other diabetes medications help or hinder us in weight loss and blood glucose control is to read the book entitled, "Losing Weight With Your Diabetes Medication", by David Mendosa. It is filled with personal stories of many who have achieved blood glucose control and lost weight while on Byetta.
For more diabetes "real life" discussions, check out this link www.diabetesdiscussions.com
Contents at a Glance
My Byetta Experience Diary
June 3, 2008:
8:00am - Took first 5mcg dose of Byetta by injectable pen. It doesn't hurt as much as lancets do for blood glucose (bg) testing. About 1-1/2 hours later I experienced mild nausea and a feeling of being extremely full after eating about 3/4 of a cup of oatmeal. By lunchtime the nausea was gone and I was able to eat a small lunch. Forgot to take my fasting bg, but it has been hitting the upper 160s. About an hour after breakfast my bg was 107 (great number).
7:00pm - Injection was easier, not painful. No nausea. Ate a very light dinner consisting of small amounts of grilled chicken and steak, roasted potatoes and grilled vegetables. Bg's stayed around 117. The only other side effect from the Byetta was a mild cough that lasted for about one hour. My Weight Watchers points were 21 for the whole day.
June 4:
8:00am - Injected Byetta, ate light breakfast right after as usual. Experienced mild nausea from about 9:00am to 11:00am.
7.45pm - Injected Byetta, ate light calorie dinner. Severe nausea began about 9:00pm and lasted for 3 hours. Not fun. I hope this doesn't continue.
June 5:
8:00am - Remembered to take my fasting blood glucose this morning. It was a disappointing 141. My bedtime bg last night was 112. I'm sure Byetta doesn't cover the natural early morning rise in blood glucose. I will address this at a later time with my primary care physician (pcp). Good News! I have lost 2-1/2 pounds already. More Good News! No nausea this morning. Could only eat a 3/4's of a half Chicken Walnut sandwich for lunch. Didn't even want a cookie. Looks like I'm going to save money on food. I can use that savings to put into my gas tank.
8:00pm - mild nausea over 2 hours after injection and meal. Dinner was grilled vegetables with a 1-1/2 tsp olive oil and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese accompanied by a whole wheat roll with 1 tsp butter.
June 6
Waited to take Byetta until just before lunch. Fasting bg 138. No nausea. The shots really help me curtail how much I eat at one time. If I eat too much I feel bloated and extremely full which can lead to nausea. I can tell that Byetta doesn't cover for the early morning bg rise. At least not with the 5mcg. This may be why some people need to take it with insulin or with other oral medications. I will give this more time to see if weight loss will help me have lower bg's. Weight down 3 pounds. At this time I haven't gotten into any exercise yet. Will have to go to my local adult center for that as it is getting to hot to walk outside here in Arizona.
June 10:
Yesterday and today I suffered with extreme nausea for 2 - 3 hours after the morning injection. Tonight I just didn't want to take the chance of being sick since I was barely able to eat most of the day. And my bg was higher 2 hours after I ate then usual even though my meal was low in carbs. I'm not sure what I will do tomorrow, probably wait until lunch to take my injection. I have to be able to go to an appointment tomorrow morning.
Any anti-nausea suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
June 18:
Today, I've been tired, but that's due to my dogs crying last night after having their teeth cleaned by the vet. Hope they sleep tonight. I've been on Byetta 5mcg for 16 days now. Rarely now I will have very very mild nausea. The full feeling I get with the injections doesn't come on for at least two hours or more, but I still am satisfied with very small meals. I've been counting calories and carbs instead of Weight Watcher's points, because I want to try to stay as close to 1000 calories each day and limit meal carbs to 45g or less. I do try to make each bite I take be as nutritious as possible. The best news is that I've lost 6 pounds in those 16 days and that is very good for me. My morning fasting sugars have come down from the 150's to the low 130's. I believe they will get better as I lose weight. I am not experiencing any hypoglycemic episodes as far as I know and that is probably because Byetta is the only thing I'm taking for my diabetes. I'm still waiting to see if my insurance company will authorize my prescription for Byetta. My co-pay will be $55 for a month's supply of the 5mcg injections.
8:00am - Took first 5mcg dose of Byetta by injectable pen. It doesn't hurt as much as lancets do for blood glucose (bg) testing. About 1-1/2 hours later I experienced mild nausea and a feeling of being extremely full after eating about 3/4 of a cup of oatmeal. By lunchtime the nausea was gone and I was able to eat a small lunch. Forgot to take my fasting bg, but it has been hitting the upper 160s. About an hour after breakfast my bg was 107 (great number).
7:00pm - Injection was easier, not painful. No nausea. Ate a very light dinner consisting of small amounts of grilled chicken and steak, roasted potatoes and grilled vegetables. Bg's stayed around 117. The only other side effect from the Byetta was a mild cough that lasted for about one hour. My Weight Watchers points were 21 for the whole day.
June 4:
8:00am - Injected Byetta, ate light breakfast right after as usual. Experienced mild nausea from about 9:00am to 11:00am.
7.45pm - Injected Byetta, ate light calorie dinner. Severe nausea began about 9:00pm and lasted for 3 hours. Not fun. I hope this doesn't continue.
June 5:
8:00am - Remembered to take my fasting blood glucose this morning. It was a disappointing 141. My bedtime bg last night was 112. I'm sure Byetta doesn't cover the natural early morning rise in blood glucose. I will address this at a later time with my primary care physician (pcp). Good News! I have lost 2-1/2 pounds already. More Good News! No nausea this morning. Could only eat a 3/4's of a half Chicken Walnut sandwich for lunch. Didn't even want a cookie. Looks like I'm going to save money on food. I can use that savings to put into my gas tank.
8:00pm - mild nausea over 2 hours after injection and meal. Dinner was grilled vegetables with a 1-1/2 tsp olive oil and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese accompanied by a whole wheat roll with 1 tsp butter.
June 6
Waited to take Byetta until just before lunch. Fasting bg 138. No nausea. The shots really help me curtail how much I eat at one time. If I eat too much I feel bloated and extremely full which can lead to nausea. I can tell that Byetta doesn't cover for the early morning bg rise. At least not with the 5mcg. This may be why some people need to take it with insulin or with other oral medications. I will give this more time to see if weight loss will help me have lower bg's. Weight down 3 pounds. At this time I haven't gotten into any exercise yet. Will have to go to my local adult center for that as it is getting to hot to walk outside here in Arizona.
June 10:
Yesterday and today I suffered with extreme nausea for 2 - 3 hours after the morning injection. Tonight I just didn't want to take the chance of being sick since I was barely able to eat most of the day. And my bg was higher 2 hours after I ate then usual even though my meal was low in carbs. I'm not sure what I will do tomorrow, probably wait until lunch to take my injection. I have to be able to go to an appointment tomorrow morning.
Any anti-nausea suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
June 18:
Today, I've been tired, but that's due to my dogs crying last night after having their teeth cleaned by the vet. Hope they sleep tonight. I've been on Byetta 5mcg for 16 days now. Rarely now I will have very very mild nausea. The full feeling I get with the injections doesn't come on for at least two hours or more, but I still am satisfied with very small meals. I've been counting calories and carbs instead of Weight Watcher's points, because I want to try to stay as close to 1000 calories each day and limit meal carbs to 45g or less. I do try to make each bite I take be as nutritious as possible. The best news is that I've lost 6 pounds in those 16 days and that is very good for me. My morning fasting sugars have come down from the 150's to the low 130's. I believe they will get better as I lose weight. I am not experiencing any hypoglycemic episodes as far as I know and that is probably because Byetta is the only thing I'm taking for my diabetes. I'm still waiting to see if my insurance company will authorize my prescription for Byetta. My co-pay will be $55 for a month's supply of the 5mcg injections.
Amazon Spotlight
Recent Book about Losing Weight on Diabetes Medications
My recommendation for those wanting to learn more about how Byetta and other diabetes medications help or hinder us in weight loss and blood glucose control is to read the book entitled, "Losing Weight With Your Diabetes Medication", by David Mendosa. It is filled with personal stories of many who have achieved blood glucose control and lost weight while on Byetta.
Losing Weight with Your Diabetes Medication: How Byetta and Other Drugs Can Help You Lose More Weight than You Ever Thought Possible (Marlowe Diabetes Library)
Amazon Price: $12.71 (as of 12/11/2009)
Gives history of Byetta, comparison of other type 2 medications and their impact on weight loss or gain. Personal stories of real people on Byetta. Subject has been studies extensively by the author.
Diabetes Related Books on Amazon
The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed (First Year, The)
Amazon Price: $12.20 (as of 12/11/2009)
List Price: $16.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
The New Glucose Revolution Shopper's Guide to GI Values 2008: The Authoritative Source of Glycemic Index Values for More Than 1000 Foods
Amazon Price: (as of 12/11/2009)
List Price: $6.99
Betty Crocker's Diabetes Cookbook: Everyday Meals, Easy as 1-2-3
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/11/2009)
List Price: $24.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs
Amazon Price: (as of 12/11/2009)
List Price: $25.95
101 Medication Tips for People With Diabetes (American Diabetes Association & American Dietetic Association)
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 12/11/2009)
List Price: $14.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
Reader Feedback
Byetta lovers and haters speak up!
Blog here about your success or failure with Byetta. Suggestions and comments for dealing with the nausea. Please add links relating to the subject of Diabetes, Byetta and other treatments.
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- DavePatrick DavePatrick Jul 20, 2008 @ 3:19 am
- I Was on four insulin shots a day, Overweight and always tired, Sorted my diet out and everything else seemed to fall into place. I dont think type 2 diabetes can be reversed totally but there is certainly a way to control it with diet and supplements.
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- Wbisbill Wbisbill Jun 6, 2008 @ 8:14 am
- Very Interesting and informative lens. I've added your link to my squidoo lens...
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