BYETTA

This sounds like Buccastem (Prochlorperazine), available OTC as Buccastem M. It's an anti emetic which is particularly effective at relieving nausea and vomiting associated with migraine.

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That's the problem with a drug regime - you take pill number 1, followed by pill number 2 to combat side effects of No.1, then a 3rd to offset side effects of No.2...before you know it, you have a dozen or so tablets rattling around your system with no real idea of what may interacting with which and affecting something else.

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jpg said:

Tell me about it! For someone whom I consider basically an otherwise healthy, if somehat obese, 63 year old, the amount of medication I walk away from the pharmacy with is frankly embarrassing. I always have a large shopping bag of drugs and diabetic paraphernalia - I feel sure that I am the talk of the pharmacy and surgery given the veritable pharmacopeia I consume. The surgery receptionists all know me by name as I am there so frequently.

I know exactly what you mean, I used to take loads of meds, not all Diabetes related.
I was taking 23/24 tablets per day just over 12 months ago. I too am on first name terms with Surgery and Pharmacy staff !! Helps when you have any problems though.

That aside, goodness knows what all these chemicals are doing to my physiology. I must say I don't notice any side-effects although cramp and gout may be due in part to my medication. In particular, high protein diet and use of diuretics pre-disposes to gout. As I am diabetic and hypertensive I guess that's par for the course - and the gout adds yet another pill, albeit temporarily.

I too am Diabetic and have hypertension (treated and in control)., however I use a reduced carbs/low GI/GL method of diet so have never had the problems you have had with gout and cramp. I have been on diuretics since 2004 after a major Heart Op. No problems there either.

I'm convinced that geting back to a normal weight will allow me to ditch some of my medicines, that's why I have been so desparate over the last couple of years to get on to Byetta (or Victoza). My problem has been the good numbers I was getting on my old insulin regime, making the medics reluctant to try me on anything new (and expensive!).

I agree. Weight loss can have a dramatic effect on the amount of Meds you take. I was almost clear of all but one anti-Diabetes meds and had lost over 5 stone in 12 months, then got hit by Cancer and had to go back on a few Diabetes meds. Now finished all treatment and meds now being gradually reduced again, hopefully off them soon, as before

Finally I managed to persuade my GP to send me to the hospital specialists who have put me on Byetta - Victoza is supposedly too expensive for our health trusts. The result is - see my earlier post, a highly satisfactory 9 lb loss in less than 3 weeks.

Well done on the weight loss. I am sure that will continue.
Ken

jpg

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r newton said:

My concern is that my hospital consultant keeps changing my follow up appointment, now i will not see him until August, so thats only one follow up in 8 months.

Why not contact the Hospital or Consultant's Secretary direct and see if there are any sooner appointments. That's what I do, works every time. As you say 8 months is a loooooong time.

My concern is although my Bg's are fairly stable at 11.4 ish, with the occasional 5 -8, is this too high ( i know that 5 is the target) and should i be asking my GP to reintroduce lantus?

My first thought is what are you eating, carbs will 'jack up' your Bg levels very quickly. Take a look at the advice we hand out to newly diagnosed Type 2's. That explains a lot about what foods to avoid or reduce, reduce portion sizes as well. As for Bg levels, not sure where the 5 figure comes from ???

The 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels for a Type 2 are:
Waking(fasting) ............between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals...........no more than 8.5 mmol/l.
Keeping the post meal levels as low as you can without dropping lower than 4 mmol/l has to be better though. Why go on Insulin which can promote weight gain sometimes when there are possibly other alternatives. Maybe some other oral meds.

I have absolutely no appetite and have to force myself to eat and drink.

Yep....one of the great things about Byetta is that it is a very effective appetite suppressant. therefore you possibley will have to remind yourself to eat and drink at the correct times. I often have to do that. I am not hungry, but I know I need to eat to make the Byetta work properly.

I am also thinking to go back to the GP's diabetic practice nurse but that will take on another life of its own if her advice conflicts with the consultant?

Personally, I would go for the Consultant every time. With the greatest of respect, a Practice Nurse rarely has the skills and knowledge of an Endocrinologist. As for the advice, I can only suggest that the advice you get here will probably be the best you will find unless your Diabetic team are very enlightened. This section in particular gives advice from experienced Byetta users.

Ken

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octoberlady said:

i am now trying victoza been on over a week feel great on it no sickness so far i have had a nose bleed dont know if thats connected to the victoza though .

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jane22 said:

Well I'm starting to feel frustrated. My GP's nurse suggested I had Byetta in February, then I had to wait for an appointment with a community diabetic nurse who agreed with the first one. Then I had to be referred to a consultant anbd the appointment was 22nd April. She gave the go ahead and said I had to wait to go on a training course. Today I received a call from a nurse asking me to go and learn how to use a glucose monitor but I said I already had one and she was a bit narked. I asked when I could have the Byetta and she said the soonest appointment would be July as they only give it to 6 people a month. I feel like screaming as if I get it, it will have taken 5 months and now I feel as though I am begging.

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