Byetta 10

[Dennis]

Hi Pauline,

You seem to be doing really well on the Byetta. Your HBA1C is what I hope to have reached in a few months. They say the first target for a diabetic is to get your HBA1C under 7.0%, then down to 6.0, but preferably not below 6.

Chocolate is a big "miss" for me as well. Probably a bit late now, but for your next treat get your hubby to order you some Hotel Chocolat chocs. They can only be ordered online and they have a diabetic range that, unlike the others, does not use a sugar substitute. They just make them using 50% of the normal sugar, which is how dark chocolates used to be made 40+ years ago before the manufacturers started to realise that if you add more and more sugar then (a) they are cheaper to make, and (b) your customers will become addicted (because sugar is actually more addictive than nicotine). They cost a bit more than Thorntons, but in quality its like comparing a Merc with a Ford Escort.

 

[shavals]

thanks for that news Dennis I'm going to order some tomorrow.
got to have a treat sometimes or I'd go up the wall.

keep well.


Pauline Jones

 

[Silvercat]

Chocolate is a great loss to me and I get terrible cravings for it. Also for anything sweet after a meal.
Really pleased with my first 2 blood glucose readings today (since they finally gave me a meter) tho...6.0 2 hours after breakfast and 5.4 2 hours after lunch. Lets hope my Hba1c is down too...I go for my blood test next week ready for the consultant the week after. I am trying to keep the carbs down and I am sure it is helping. Thank goodness I adore macadamias and they were buy a bag get one free in the health food shop a couple of weeks ago...a real bargain.

 

[Dennis]

Silvercat, Don't expect too much from this HBA1C. Remember that it measures your blood sugars over a 3 month period, so even though you have good readings over the last few weeks, it is the period before that where your readings were maybe not so good that can give you a higher than expected result. If you can keep the levels you currently have going for the next 2 months, then an HBA1C 2 months from now will probably show fantastic results.

 

Hi everyone,

Have seen my diabetic nurse today and asked about Byetta however she said that currently they will only prescribe to obese patients. My BMI was 29.5 so .5 away from being classed as obese but she stated that the patients they will prescribe to are much larger than me. I have tried to argue my case that it would still be a good drug for me and all my symptoms and quite frankly I could do with losing about 2 1/2 stone but she wouldn't budge and has now started me on insulin. Have others had problems gettig Byetta and without seeming rude, those that get Byetta have you got a significant amount of weight to lose.

Michelle.

 

[siddywest]

Sorry forgot to sign in - it is me.

 

[shavals]

Hi Siddywest

I had about a stone to lose, this is because I was prescribed a tablet called Actos to help my blood sugars come down, by bmi was 30.5 at the time but it also made me gain weight very quickly.

I am looking to get back to 11.5 stone, which has been my weight for quite a few years. I will still be overweight for my height but they were not too worried about it but I shall continue the battle to lose more.





Pauline Jones

 

[mandi]

Thanks david,very good reading, had my first injection last night .did it myself today and all a bit frighting, but hopefull it will get better,and yes i feel sick.so off to flump and watch tv ....

 

[Dennis]

Michelle, I had put on 5 stone in 6 months as a result of being on Avandia (Rosiglitazone). Have now lost 3 stone of that since going on to Byetta, so a bit more to go.

 

[david parkman]

Dennis i was also on Avandia but stopped now, and raised the issue when i had the induction for Byetta. The nurse seemed to think it had nothing to do with Weight gain. Anyway my numbers are still tumbling My waking bs 5.1 today and after 3 days of no movement another 1lb off.

Regarding my earlier posting on flying with unset pen - i phoned Eli lilly and they advised it was ok to use a frio bag as there wasnt much else you could do. the fridge advice seems to be for Chemists stocking the stuff so it doesnt cause probs.

 

[siddywest]

I am also on Avandia at the moment and as I said could really do with losing 3 stone so very frustrated they won't let me have Byetta. Am seeing the consultant soon (when appt eventually arrives) so will try for it again. In the meantime will give insulin a try starting tonight (very nervous). Worried about Hypo's in the night as I still have to take 2 Gliclazide as well with evening meal and then inject when I go to bed so scared it will bring me too low but hey ho, I guess they know what they are doing.

Thanks to you all for your replies particularly you Dennis, you are a font of all knowledge.

Regards Michelle.

 

[david parkman]

Siddy keep trying !! Have just had my Spec nurse on the phone and am going on to Byetta 10 when this pen finishes. Maybe ive been lucky but havnt had nausea etc. I too could do with 2+ stone off. My bs numbers are tumbling down to where they should be and have lost some 6lbs already so hopeful is the word

 

[david parkman]

And yes siddy Dennis is worth his weight in Gold.

 

[shavals]

Here, here 3 cheers for Dennis and all his helpful advice on Byetta and its affect on us individuals. For me its worked so well as it has for most of you.


Dennis, have ordered my box of chocs this morning, roll on April 15, I shall be 62, and have a couple of these to celebrate.

Hope you are all keeping well


Pauline Jones

 

[Dennis]

Michelle,

I noticed that you mentioned in another post that you suffer from shortness of breath. This is another common side effect of Avandia. This is a list of all the known side effects of Avandia:

- Excessive fluid retention in the body tissues, resulting in swelling (oedema).
- Weight gain.
- Difficulty in breathing (dyspnoea).
- Dizziness.
- Pain in the muscles.
- Pins and needles (paraesthesia).
- Fluid in the lungs (pulmonary oedema).
- Low blood glucose level (hypoglycaemia).
- Constipation.
- Low red blood cell count (anaemia).
- Increase in the level of fats, eg cholesterol, in the blood (hyperlipidaemia).
- Increased appetite.
- Headache.
- Fatigue.
- Heart failure.
- Decrease in the number of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia).
- Abnormal liver function.
- Swelling of the back of the eye (macular oedema).

The first 8 listed are the most commonly seen. Many of these are not admitted by the manufacturer so are not even mentioned on the warning leaflet that comes with the pills, and therefore your GP may not be aware of them because all they have to go on is the misinformation given by the manufacturers, but these are all well known to consultant endocrinologists.

 

[siddywest]

Thanks again Dennis, it is so useful to be able to speak to the professionals and find that you are armed with more info than they are. Makes them listen to you (sometimes). Will monitor how I get on over the next couple of weeks.


Michelle.

 

[Silvercat]

Been on 10mcg now for 11 days and the nausea seems to be getting worse not better. Its actually making me vomit now. I had no problems at all with 5mcg. The nausea seems to appear about an hour after the injection and I have tried eating at different times after this but none makes any difference. After dinner nausea seems to be worse. Somebody suggested ginger but as I don't like it I couldnt use it while feeling nauseous. Any other suggestions?

 

[stuartclose]

Hi Dennis

just back from my 2.5 month check up since going onto Byetta 10.

Have lost since January an amazing 8lbs. Overall my test results are 6.2. Although at times I still feel nauseous before and after food I am going to keep going on it.

Today they have cut my Gliclazide down to just 1/2 tablet morning and evening, at my next check up might cut out altogether.

Keep well

Pauline

 

[stuartclose]

Dennis

forgot to say had trouble logging in with my old user name, Shavals is now Stuart Close.

Also my chocs arrived this morning, had to try one, delicious, not sweet at all.

 

[buzzangie1]

I have searched american site and was quite frustrated when it would not let me register as I was not a US resident so Ihave got my sister who is to register for me. aparently in the US the are going to have a pen out within 12months that you will only need to inject once a week!
Opinion there is that the sickness is due to the amounts of food consumed - I can't see that if people feel sick before they have eaten??
Ihave been on 5mg for 37 days and have lost apporx 8Lb I am well impressed.