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Byetta and Flying!

M

MaddieS

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Hi Everyone,

I have been browsing this forum for a couple of years, since being diagnosed T2 in 2007. I've never really needed to ask a question as I've always been able to find some help on these boards - really helpful bunch of people!

Anyway, after being on Glucophage for nearly 3 years and having HBA1C's ranging from 7 to 7.9 during that time, I have recently been experiencing 'bonkers' BG levels (I've just browsed my meter and haven't a reading lower than 15.2 for the last 6 weeks). My DN is keen to try me on Victoza, but needs to get the ok from my Endocrinologist first (who is stuck in Greece due to the volcano cloud apparently), as I have thyroid disease. In the meantime I have been put on 80mg twice daily, which 4 days in seems to have lowered my BG from late 20's/early 30's to around 17-23mmol. I will also be starting Byetta on Monday (once my diddy little village surgery gets some supplies in!), pending my Endo's feedback on the Victoza thing. By the way, what are the benefits of Victoza over Byetta, apart from one less injection a day?

Question I have is that I am going on a long haul flight in a couple of weeks and know that I will need to dispense the Byetta during the flight. Is there anything I need to do prior to flying to permit me to take the equipment into the cabin with me? I believe the Byetta is a pen type dispenser, but I've no idea how these work with regards to needles etc. Is it a simple procedure? Does it need to be kept at a certain temperature? Do the needles have to be manually changed on the pen? etc. etc. etc.!!!!!

Any advice anyone can give me would be great. I have a very lovely DN and I know she will doubtless arm with all the relevant info, but I'm impatient and like to know what I'm in for!

Thanks so much,

Mads
 
I cannot help you with Byetta, but maybe a little concerning Victoza.

Victoza is an injectable additional medication that is relatively new and is presented in a multi-dose disposable pen form (with use once needles) offering 15 days treatment. Its onset is fairly quick in that a lower BG is noted in only a few days and that becomes lower still when full dose is administered after a week on the lower dose. It does have side effects but those vary from user to user and for me the unpleasantness went away within the first month.

For me it also had other beneficial effects other than lowering my BG down to acceptable levels where all else had failed and this was my last chance before switching to insulin.
The other effects are a lowering of systolic blood pressure to give me a good reading every time and also it has raised my very low heart rate to normal where other heart rate raising meds were not tolerated.
I also lost weight at a considerable rate to start with, but that has now slowed right down to be measured in onces, but a loss is still a loss as against a previous creeping rise. What it has done is reduce the amount of food I can eat from my plate in one sitting and now my portion size is only just over a half of what I used to eat.

So for me, it was been an all round gaining experience and the morning injection has become a way of life. The only thing I will add to this is the word 'Actimel' ... to me this daily milk based drink is essential in helping keep loo visits regular, as Victoza does substantially slow the speed food passes through you and I bloat without Actimel.
 
I forgot to mention 'keeping' temperature.
The chemist will keep the pack in the fidge and so must you within the range 2 to 8C, but the pen in use can be kept in a cool place no warmer than 30C max. I keep my daily pen at the bottom of my wardrobe as that is the coolest place in my home.

If you plan to travel then I expect you will need to obtain a special pen wallet that is designed to keep them cool and I am sure a Google search will find what you need. I have also seen them advertised in Balance magazine from Diabetes UK
 
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