BYETTA

Dennis

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,506
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
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Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Welcome to the world of Byetta FordPrefect.

You should be ok on the 30 gauge needles, but when they run out ask for the 31 gauge as these are thinner and so less likely to cause bruising. Whatever you do, don't be tempted to try the 29 gauge - feels like you are injecting with a drain pipe! I'm surprised your diabetes team didn't recommend the thinner gauge because, even if they are new to Byetta, they must have patients on insulin pens which take the same type of needles.

If there's anything you are unsure of just ask - we have members on here who are more knowledgable on Byetta than most of the medical profession!!
 

Trulee

Well-Known Member
Messages
96
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Guys - just popping in with a quick update.

Have now ben on Byetta since last Thursday - slight sicky feeling for a couple of hours after meals, which are now smaller than they were, and no feeling the need for snacks or 'munchies' :D

Have lost another lb - so 5 in total so far - am happy with that.

All in all am quite happy at the minute - BG levels not down where I'd like them, but a little lower than they were - but DSN did warn me that I might not see much change on the 5mcgm dosage, so am happy to wait and see what happens :)
 

Dennis

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,506
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
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People who join web forums to be agressive and cause trouble
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Trulee,

That's good news. I wouldn't worry too much about not seeing a big reduction as it is early days yet and many people find that they don't get a great BS reduction on the 5mcg dose, even though weight loss seems to kick in straight away on the lower dose.
 

FordPrefect

Well-Known Member
Messages
139
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Well I took the first dose in the nurses office couldnt even feel the needle going in which was great :) No side effects so far. Low BG tonight for me at only 5.9 a few hours after my meal which was only salad and a piece of chicken breast but cant really tell from one reading. I did feel really full tho. Gonna have a quick snack now to take the rest of my pills, as the advice on other pills was very confusing.
 

Sillymilly

Member
Messages
11
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Guys,

Just to say...I have been on byetta for nearly a month now and I am going to the hospital Monday for my increase to 10mg.

Initially I was a little apprehensive as I am on insulin as well but thankfully things have gone really well. I felt a little sick to start with but then this seemed to ease off thank goodness. I went away on holidy 5 days after starting it which was a bit difficult but I coped. I was fine with breakfast but when it came to lunch I found it very difficult to actually eat anything and then when it came to my evening meal I just couldnt deal with the food, thats when I really felt sick. Two days I had fish and it did not agree with at all. I unfortunately had two glasses of wine as well on another day and I totally freaked with this. I had my injection just after the drink, went off to a resteraunt, I ate two mouthfuls of food and I thought I was going to throw up right there and then. We starting to go for a walk but all of a sudden I felt like I had drunk two bottles of wine not just two glasses. I couldnt walk in a straight line and my husband was near enough dragging me back to the hotel, it was absolutely awful. When I checked my levels they had dropped to 3.2. Not touch a drink since not that I am a drinker but I like one now and then.

I was told by the hosipital to have my injection 30 mins before eating but by pure chance one day when we were away I didnt get to eat for 50 mins and I felt much better for waiting longer.

I actually lost 5 pounds in weight whilst I was away but I think that was mainly becuase I wasnt eating much at all. I am a very small eater at the best of times not that you would think so if you saw me. My husband keeps saying "How the heck can you eat less". In total I have lost 9 pounds in weight in the month so fingers crossed it keeps going that way.

My levels before the byetta was around 7 or 8's and the nurse thought they would rise quite a lot as she lowered my insulin dose but my levels are only going up to around 12 or 13's. I was taken piaglitazone before Byetta but not taking that now.

I have felt very well in general so hopefully when I increase my dose on Monday it will still be that way.

Millyx
 

Chippychap

Newbie
Messages
2
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Guys,

My wife has been on Byetta now for about 3 months.
No adverse effects at all but she had to resume some of her Gliclicide to supplement it.
I'm her hubby and, as she is wildly needle-phobic, I am the jabber-in-chief.
One thing that DOES concern me is that sometimes i administer the Byetta into her bum, NOW I've found a Byetta leaflet which shows a diagram of where to jab her, it includes bingo wings and front thighs as well as around the tum.
Have I cocked-up her treatment by injecting her in the wrong place?
 

cugila

Master
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Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi chippy..
Welcome to the forum.

Simple answer to your question is yes. Big time ! I am surprised you/she wasn't advised how to do this properly ?

The proper place to inject is into the tummy area. That is to allow the drug to get into the system more quickly and be more effective. You should never inject into a muscle, always into the subcutaneous tissue just under the skin, Fat in otherwords.

If there is a problem injecting into the tum, then the thighs can be used. Always make sure you pinch the flesh to raise the fat for injecting into.
 

Chippychap

Newbie
Messages
2
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Bless you for that, lesson learned.
Hopefully will now enable the gliclizide to be dumped again.
Thank you sincerely for your help.
 

lindygrub

Member
Messages
6
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi
Sorry to 'butt in' but I am new to this forum and am hoping to get a better understanding of things. I was diagnosed as type 2 a year ago and despite a closely monitored diet it is still largely uncontrolled. My HBA1C is now down to 8.8 which is brilliant for me and I take 2 x 750 metformin and 2 x gliclazide daily (my sugars range from 11 after fasting to 24) and the doctor is trying me on something else and mentioned this Byetta - can anyone tell me anything about iit????
 

cugila

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Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Lindyg.
Welcome to the forum.

Byetta. There are 77 pages and over 1100 posts in this topic which is mainly about Byetta. There are hints, tips, success stories, and tales of people who have tried it and failed. A never ending story ? Have a read.

Here is a link to the Technical information about Byetta.
http://emc.medicines.org.uk/document.as ... ICAL_PARTS

Basic information is as follows.
BYETTA is usually used for treatment of Type 2 diabetes in combination with metformin and/or sulphonylureas in patients who have not achieved adequate glycaemic control on maximum doses
of these oral therapies. You are not on the maximum dose of either meds ?

The drug is injected twice daily before the two main meals of the day, and within 60 minutes prior to eating. A lot inject then eat straight away, others as myself leave about 20 minutes after injecting then eat.

You must leave at least 6 hrs between meals and you must NEVER take the injection after food.

The way it works is described in the technical link.

There are strict criteria set out for anyone to be prescribed Byetta. BMI of no less than 35, poor glycaemic control and various other reasons as set out in the NICE guidelines which your GP will consult. Sometimes these guidelines are routinely ignored by the medical profession ?

It is an appetite suppressant as well, so can help with weight loss. However, a change in diet can also make it work more efficiently. It is very effective and I can vouch for it's efficacy having lost 4 stone and got Bg numbers well under control.

Your numbers are very high and you really need to tackle them asap. You say your diet is being
'closely monitored ? ' Who is 'monitoring' this ?

Can you give us an example of a typical days food intake together with any Bg readings as well ? We may then be able to make suggestions which hopefully will get those levels down.
 

lindygrub

Member
Messages
6
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi
Thanks for your reply. I was taking the max of metformin but it gives me a very bad tummy and therefore stops absorption of some of my other medication (forgot to mention I had a cardiac arrest a few years ago and have heart valve probs - also suffered a series of TIA's a couple of months ago). (my BMI was 48.1 but is now around 45). I see the dietician at my doctors fortnightly.

A typical day would be sugars of 13.0 after fasting (first thing in the morning)
breakfast - a bowl of special k with skimmed milk and sweetener sprinkled on top
lunch - a pasta dish with peppers, maybe chicken or ham etc
dinner - i love quorn - so I make the family eat a lot of meals such as lasagne or curry made with quorn.
I usually end the day between 18 - 24.

I do love chocolate but I feel sick if i eat it and fall asleep, so have cut it out - is this to do with my blood sugars?

Any help or suggestions would be great !
 

cugila

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Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi LG.
Thanks for that information.

As a T2 the 2009 NICE guideline Bg levels you should aim for at the moment are these.
Fasting (waking).................between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.
If you can get those post meal numbers down then so much the better.

As for your diet.....has your dietician told you to cut down the amount and types of carbohydrates you are eating ? Speaking from experience these can have a great effect on Bg levels and weight loss if they are reduced and you avoid such things as potato, cereals, breads,flour based products and certain starchy root vegetables. Since doing that all my Bg levels have plummeted and I have lost 4 stone since January. Diet, lifestyle can do much more than any drugs alone !

As for falling asleep, this is all to do with high Bg levels. You need to work hard at getting them down. You will feel better and also will get healthier.
 

lindygrub

Member
Messages
6
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi

The Dietician hasn't gone through specifics with carbs - so what sort of carbs should I be avoiding ie which are better ???

I've just picked up my prescription from the doctors and tey have decided tostart me on Januvia to see how it goes befor going onto Byetta. Ca anyone tell me anything about this drug??

Also - does anyone knowid Gliclazide puts weightt on? I've heard conflicting stories about it.

Thanks
 

Jude

Well-Known Member
Messages
430
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi lindy
Yes, as far as I am concerned Gliclazide does put on weight. I put a stone on virtually overnight and like most diabetics I already have more than enough weight!! I was then put on Lantus instead of Gliclazide and put on another half stone! So in April this year I started on Byetta and although I am still struggling with persistant nausea I have lost the weight I had put on thanks to these two medications. Everyone is different though. Dont know anything about Januvia.
Best of luck, Jude
 

cocacola

Well-Known Member
Messages
330
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
celery, not eating chocolate
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi I'm new to the forum and wanting to know a little more about Byetta. I haven't yet trawled through the 78 pages of this thread.
I was diagnosed as type 2 about 2 years ago. Just after I was diagnosed with a thyroid problem (Hashimoto's thyroiditis) Now taking 125mcgs of thyroxine every day.
Been on Metformin (500mg) 3 times daily for 2 years. But seem to be unable to lose weight. Despite my GP saying the weight will fall off when I first started Metformin.
My Hb1Ac BG is usually around 7.3. I was supposed to go for a blood test today, but feeling pretty unwell today with IBS.
Over the past 18 months my Hb1Ac has gone up from 6.0 to 7.3 despite being on Metformin.
I have an appointment next week with the diabetes nurse, so was thinking of asking about Byetta.
I have noticed that when I eat too much sugar, my feet get hot and itchy. I also feel pretty tired.

Who do they normally prescribe Byetta for? Is it usually people with higher BG levels? My BMI is around 32.

How do I find out if my PCT will prescribe it?
 

lindygrub

Member
Messages
6
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi
My GP referred me to a specialist who has put me on Januvia with a view to changing it to Byetta if that doesn't do the trick. MY GP and the Diabetic Nurse Practitioner are lovely but they were totally honest and said they didnt know what medication would work best for me from now on which is why I was referred. However even the specialist has told me there is no miracle cure and it could take 6-8 months for him to work out the best combination for me. I've got my fingers crossed !!!
 

cugila

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Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi LG.

Januvia (Sitagliptin).
Sitagliptin inhibits dipeptidylpeptidase-4 to increase insulin secretion and lower glucagon secretion. It is usually used in Type 2 Diabetes in combination with metformin or a sulphonylurea (if metformin inappropriate) or a thiazolidinedione, when treatment with either metformin or a sulphonylurea or a thiazolidinedione fails to achieve adequate glycaemic control. Sitagliptin is also used in combination with both metformin and a sulphonylurea when dual therapy with these drugs fails to achieve adequate glycaemic control.

NICE has recommended that treatment with sitagliptin is continued only if HbA1c concentration is reduced by at least 0.5% within 6 months of starting treatment.

As your Consultant stated, not a miracle cure, just another drug in the anti Diabetic armoury. Hope this drug helps you.
 

cugila

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Re: Anyone use Byetta?

cocacola said:
Hi I'm new to the forum and wanting to know a little more about Byetta. I haven't yet trawled through the 78 pages of this thread.

Who do they normally prescribe Byetta for? Is it usually people with higher BG levels? My BMI is around 32.

How do I find out if my PCT will prescribe it?

First of all, you should look through this topic. Many of the questions you and others are asking have been answered here before.

From just a few posts back....an answer.
There are strict criteria set out for anyone to be prescribed Byetta. BMI of no less than 35, poor glycaemic control and various other reasons as set out in the NICE guidelines which your GP will consult. Sometimes these guidelines are routinely ignored by the medical profession.

Your Gp or Consultant will know the answer to that or you can ask them yourself, by phone.
 

Trulee

Well-Known Member
Messages
96
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi All
Just popping in with an update - have had very scarce internet connection the last few days. But am now just about two weeks into 5mcg Byetta and I have to say am liking it very much.

Have had a little nausea but not actually been sick, not hungry most of the time (have just had to almost force myself to have lunch :roll: ) and have lost just about 8lb. BG readings aren't down much but they warned me they might not be.

Have an appt in two weeks with DNP to up the dosage - fingers crossed she's happy with everything else.

thanks for this thread - it has been invaluable in putting my mind at rest both before, and since, I started the treatment.

Trulee
 

thedame

Member
Messages
24
Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi :D

Have been to see the diabetes team and all good news! I have lost 6lb since I started out on Byetta 12 days ago and my morning blood reading was 6.9 - first time under 7 for a few years! I will go back to see my nurse at the end of the month after I have had a blood test for liver and kidney function and if all is well I will go onto the 10mcg dose of Byetta from the beginning of November. I might get a the bouts of the nausea I experienced at the start of the 5mcg dose but I am hopeful that it will pass as it did this time.

Will let you know how that goes next month. :?: