BYETTA

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Pete.

Are you on the 5mcg dose ?
What other meds are you on and doses please.
Your other meds should have been reduced when you were put on Byetta, did that happen ?

It is a fantastic drug and as someone else here said, 'Does what it says on the tin.'
Sorry for the questions but it helps us to better understand the picture.
I am surprised at you dropping so low so soon, that's why I ask about the meds.

Ken.

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Ken
I'm on 5 mcg pen at the moment.Was on max dose Metformin 6x500 per day and 4x80 Gliclazide per day.Gliclazide now reducved to 2x80 per day and having spoken to DSN said they may need to stop Gliclazide completely.Metformin as before 6x500.

Hope this helps

Pete

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Yes. That helps a lot.
The Glic in particular will probably need reducing. It can cause Hypos in combination with the Byetta.
I have reduced mine to one a day AM in consultation with DSN. This has reduced the number of Hypos I was getting.
The Met I was on previously was the same as you but was immediately reduced to 2 x 1000g daily when I sdtarted the Byetta. This may also need reducing.

You do need to discuss this with the DNS. Are you able to contact her by phone ?
Were you seen by an Endocrinologist at all ?

Ken.

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Yes I did eventually get to see an endocrinologist who suggested Byetta straight away due to my high levels,weight problems(mainly caused by the Gliclazide) and driving "issues" regarding Insulin.
Have spoken to DSN by phone and I am monitoring my levels carefully and to speak with DSN next week.Don't regard this as a problem as I am aware if I do go low and can sort if it happens.

Pete

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Dennis, anyone medical & fellow byetta users

Unfortunately i am still really struggling and my DSN doesnt help. She has phoned me today to say that I have to go and see a consultant because I should not be on Lantus and the Byetta. I discussed it with her asking what she thought as to whether or not I should come off it or gradually drop it (am still on 30 units at night) and she said it was up to me!!! I dont want to be on insulin, which is what I told her, but according to my practice nurse (have spoke to her today) she has a letter from the DSN stating that if the Byetta does not do the job in 3-6 months then I will be on insulin twice a day!!As I said yesterday my morning numbers are still raised, my weight is still the same and I havent experienced loss of appetite!!

So all in all am feeling very rough at the momentand extremely discouraged - I think I blame myself and am very frustrated. However in recent weeks I have not been doing my walking so am trying to do that again from today. I did have an extra stressful day yesterday when I found out that my husbands job is not safe (he is 60) - we wont know for a few weeks - but he will have a job so thats a blessing amongst a sledgehammer!!

Thanks in advance and I do appreciate all the coments given. Jude

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Jude.

As it's taken me ages today to even get on the site let alone answer anybody I gave up and have only just got back on. Gremlins. :evil:

Dennis is spot on with his comments. It doesn't happen overnight. Just take the referral and stick with it. Try not to stress about it. The Endo is the man to see.

Ken.

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Jude
You seem to be hitting the same brickwalls that I was with my GP and practice nurse, you almost have to demand a referral and they then seem to "kop the hump" because you have questioned their ability to deal with your problems.
As Ken has said,you must see a specialist at your local hospital.If you don't get an appointment within what you regard as a reasonable timescale then put pressure on them - I found that dealing directly with the consultants secretary is a good path to use.Although to be fair once they realised my situation they were like the proverbial light at the end of a tunnel.
Hope you get sorted soon

Regards
Pete

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Jude
Stick with it!

Sue

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Ken
Already spoke to GP and DN as I am being closely monitored by both because I am the first patient in my town to go on Byetta.

I am on Metformin twice a day as well as BP tablet and Cholesterol tablet.

Sue

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Sue.

Even if your GP and DN are the nicest people in the world. (Incidentally is the DN part of the Practice or at a Specialist Hospital Clinic ?) They will never know anything like the same knowledge as an Endocrinologist. The Endo will have trained for ten years or more.
You mentioned going to see a Consultant ? Is this an Endo ? When are you due to see him/her ?

Ken.

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

jude yes i know i sound happy but as you know probably i was on byetta for 9 months previosly ok for 6months then very very ill now i am 2 months on again and it could all go wrong again saw specialist yesterday he was well pleased with me i know the weight can stop and start and i am a bit apprehensive i was lucky to be given 2nd chance on byetta its hard work jude as you know we are all fighting a battle i seem to be ok this time as he has stopped my glicklazide and changed my metformin to slow release glucoghage 1 x2times day it was my metformin not aggreeing with me after a lot of trial and error but thanks for the praises hun keep trying jude you need longer on it my meals are very small portions i dont have bread or potatoes very often as wellmy ibs is fine but occasionally it still plays up anyway nice to talk have you heard dionne warwick keep smiling keep trying take care jude good luck see you hun xxxxxxx

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi to you all - Dennis, Ken, Pete, Sue & Vivkaroo

Thank you all for your encouragement.

Last evening I found out that my eldest son (36) who drives car transporters for a living, early hours of Thursday morning was hijacked, beaten, tied up, eventually relieved of his 6 Audi cars and then dumped complete with empty transporter. (high Wycombe) Thank God he is alive, the four grandchildren I have mentioned before are his - so I am feeling rather unwell again today - just guess its the shock. On a brighter note he has just asked his partner of 4 years to marry him and we are absolutely thrilled - she is a wonderful lady, and my grandchildren love her to bits.

Thanks again all of you. Jude

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

OMG. :shock:

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly ??

Well Jude hope your son is recovering after his experience. If he is willing to take the plunge, he must be improving ? :lol:
Hope you can destress too - difficult I know. Look after yourself and try to relax and look forward to the forthcoming nuptials. Congrats to them too.

Ken.

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

hiya jude hun so sorry to hear about your son god there is some scum aboutthank god he is ok you could do without that stress that wont help ibs hope you soon feeling happier congrats to him and his girlfriend thank god he is ok what is this world turning into we have some 10 -12 yr old terrorising pensioners were we live my god 10 YR OLDS i feel quite afraid of our younger generationkeep smiling jude take care hun love vivkaroo xxx

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Ken & Viv

Thanks for your supportive & comforting comments. It has helped me a lot being able to write on here. Food has always been my emotional comfort which makes trying to eat right for diabetes much more difficult - I have thought of starting smoking but I was then told I would have two problems!! I dont smoke, drink (only very little) only take prescribed drugs but food - that is something else!! Four weeks ago our other son (33) who works with horses, got thrown off a horse straight into a brick wall and at the beginning of March we came home from holiday to find we had been burgled. So am hoping things will settle down now!! :x

Many thanks again. Jude

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Ken

Do you know if alcohol reacts with byetta? Not that I am an alcoholic but I would like to have the odd glass of wine?

Sue(akela)

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Jude
Sorry to hear about your son but thankful he is fine.

Sue (akela)

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

akela said:

Hi Ken

Do you know if alcohol reacts with byetta? Not that I am an alcoholic but I would like to have the odd glass of wine?
Sue(akela)

Click to expand...

Hi Sue.

Even though there is no specific interaction between Byetta and alcohol, there are reasons why you may not want to combine them. Because alcohol can inhibit the liver's ability to make more glucose, taking alcohol along with Byetta can increase your risk of low blood sugar levels.
See here for full info:
http://diabetes.emedtv.com/byetta/byett ... cohol.html

The problem for Diabetics usually comes with the other medications we are forced to take. All of this is explained in the link. Most medications usually have a warning about drinking Alcohol. It's up to you how far you want to push the envelope ?

From my own experience, small quantities are not a problem, I have the odd glass of wine, beer as and when. Moderation is all that matters.

Hope that helps.

Ken.

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

hiya jude love my god you just sound like the type of life i have i always think some one is jinxing me i lost my husband 17 yrs ago we used to run pubs and clubs it seems a lifetime 17 yrs ago some times i say our life is mapped out for us its ok living on your own but wish sometimes i had someone to talk to but now hey presto i have found this site and i love it although out all day its nice to come home and see if anyone has message it keeps you going we are all helping each other and its really nice i have had really sound advice from ken and dennis and all the others at the moment i have a neighbour who i have not spoken to for 1 yr she is awful i am very easy goin but she hammers on my wall to turn down the tv and it isnt even loud i just cant get away from stress then my ibs plays up never mind you know what we keep saying dont you keep smiling keep your chin up jude bye for now luv take care hun xxx

vivkaroo xx