BYETTA

[sue32]

Hi guys! Weeeeell, after having put on 3 stone in 4 years on insulin - I'm insulin resistant too, I started on Byetta just before Christmas and I haven't looked back. I've lost 2 stone, and it's continuing to come off. I'm on Byetta 10, and Gliclazide, twice a day. I have to say I've changed my diet completely and I haven't had to take any insulin for nearly 6 weeks now. My portion size is a fraction of what it used to be and i'm following the Glycaemic Load diet. It's marvellous and it's obviously working.

My HbA1c was down from 8.3 to 7.2 in 3 months. My GP said that's unbelievable. I'm not starving and eating what I want. My BM's range from 5.1 to 7.0. I sometimes have a bit of a blip, but I adjust my diet accordingly. The only downside I've found is that I tend to have a hypo after my evening meal. I'm eating what I should, but my BM can be as low as 3.1. I wondered if it's taking the 10 Byetta and the Gliclazide together. But I don't get a hypo at lunchtime, which is strange. Any ideas anyone??

 

[cugila]

Hi Sue.
Hypo's are usually caused by either too little food/carbs so the Byetta has nothing to act on OR too much medication. What dose of Gliclazide are you on ?

You sound very similar to myself. I have been on it 14 mths and lost over 5 stone, all good stuff. Bg levels were all 98% on target until a recent illness decimated my numbers. Not much I can do about that.

 

[Jane2206]

Having read the posts I'm counting myself as fortunate - no problems getting byetta !
I'm type 1 and used novarapid,glargine and metformin I was intitailly reluctant to add another needle to my life .....but have now doen a year and all is good . Nausea was minimal, weight loss increased, appetite decreased and reduction in units of novarapid/glargine. Have not found many people using it - cost ? and that in effect I'm having it in a way that it's not 'technically' liscenced for

 

[cugila]

Jane.
Is this prescribed by a Consultant or a GP ? I am interested to know. As you say it is not recommended to be used in the treatment of Type 1 Diabetes. so, if you are trialling it I would like to know where that is. Can you pm me the details. The more information I have about this the better.

Ken

 

[sue32]

Hi Cugila. I'm on Gliclazide 80mg, twice a day. Last night was OK, and I ate less than I normally do at tea time. Just one of those things I s'pose :?

 

[Kathleen21]

I have been using Byetta since last May. I was on isulin and putting on weight I have lost over a stone in weight and for the most period of time my blood sugar remained stable. I must say I was doing everything right diet and exercie. I fell off the wagon in December and the sugars have steadily crept up. Despite my every effort I cant get a handle on it so I guess it will be back on insulin for me. For the first time since I was diagnosed I have felt normal so I am going to continue to try and use diet to get things under control again

 

[cugila]

Hi Kathleen.
Welcome to the forum. Hope you can find what you are looking for here. There is usually somebody with an answer if you have any questions.

Can I ask are you a Type 1 or a Type 2 on Insulin please.

Ken

 

[cocacola]

Just wondering how long Byetta has been around?

I had mentioned Byetta to the diabetes nurse at my last appointment and she wrote it down on my records.
My GP rang me today with my recent test results and said she not heard of it. Was reluctant to prescribe it as one diabetic drug had recently been withdrawn after 5 years of being available.
GP has prescribed sitagliptin meds for me. She said to see one of the other GPs in the practice if I wanted Byetta as they have more knowledge of other diabetic medication.

 

[cugila]

Hi cocacola. (diet I hope.... :wink: )

Byetta has been around in the UK since some time in 2007 when the Forum Monitor Dennis was the first on here to use it. It has a good track record and has been very effective for most who use it.

There is a strict criteria as to who gets it prescribed. However the GP who new nothing about it should have looked it up.

It is in the BNF, the HCP's Prescribing guide, the Bible ! No excuses there. It is quite expensive so that MAY have been a factor. Try another GP or get a referral to an Endocrinologist instead, that way you will get 'expert advice.

Ken

 

[petefifer]

hi all pete here just gone 3 days on byetta and had no sideeffects as yet apart from a little bit nausea but apart from that nothing else will keep you updated.
pete

 

[cocacola]

Hi cocacola. (diet I hope.... :wink: )
Ken

Yes and caffeine free too :mrgreen:
Think I might make an appointment with another doctor in the practice.
I presume Byetta is more expensive than Metformin. I wish the NHS would realise that it is cheaper to prescribe the more expensive drugs now and have healthier diabetics, than in the future when other conditions may have arisen. Then costing the NHS more.

 

[susiewoosie]

Hi everyone.

I'm just about to be put on Byetta and its all happened very quickly. My BG has never been controlled and my last HbA1c was 10.6. The nurse Suggested that I saw the diabetic nurse and she came and saw me on Monday. I have agoraphobia as well as diabetes so the nurse came to my home. She went through the benefits of Byetta and I was hooked. She had to talk to the hospital consultant and if he agreed then she needed to talk to my diabetic doctor. The both agreed so I'm just waiting for the prescription to be sorted and then I need to call her to come and show me how to use it.

I'm really looking forward to it. I hate injections but if it helps me to feel better then I will get over that. I'm hoping it will help with the tiredness and the blurred vision. I shall report my progress when I start. Wish me luck everyone

 

[jane22]

Hi, I'm new here. I've been type 2 for about 4 years. Managed on Metformin and diet and eventually Actos until 6 months ago and then BG levels shot up along with weight. My GP's nurse wants me to have Byetta and referred me to the community diabetic team where i saw another nurse who agreed I should have it. This took nearly a month as my nurse told me the service is in chaos. I had assumed it would be sorted then and there but it seems I have to now be referred to a clinic at the hospital. She told me there was a long waiting list although didn't know how long. I'm disappointed as I have a fairly quiet few weeks to get used to it with no foreign travel etc and would be able to take some time off if I was feeling nauseous.
So, my question is - how long have other people had to wait until they actually got the drug?

 

[susiewoosie]

Hi Jane, I seem to be really lucky. I saw my diabetic nurse on Monday and I should be getting the drug next week. I moved to Scotland in June 2008 and health wise it seems to be the best move ever.

Sue

 

[cocacola]

Re: Type 2 on Byetta

Hi maybe you would get a better response posting on the Byetta thread viewtopic.php?f=26&t=12086

 

[vivkaroo]

hi ken and everyone else well i am on 4 glucoghage a day and i glicklazide and my readings are now 5 to 8 which for me isnt bad my dn is very pleased got another appointment with specialist in 4 weeks having camera down next week then see another specialist for my stomache hey ken things not so bad started nortriptyline one at night 50% better in myself so pleased with how i have picked myself up after the two goes on byetta didnt maybe work for me might ask about other once a day in couple months but they did say the dn and the specialist they didnt think it was the byetta and said never say never might in couple months let me retry byetta seems i am fine till i have been on it 10 months or so but not sure if i would want to try a third time any way things are on the up must be doing something right the bloods are down :lol: hey hope you fine ken we forget other people in our own trials but love to ken and all keep smiling life aint so bad really xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

special love to jude my pal if you see this hope you ok hun x xxxxxxx

 

[cugila]

Hi Viv.
Glad to hear that things are picking up for you at last. You sure are one determined Lady Viv. Stick with it and you will get better in time. Those numbers seem good so far. Glad you took the advice and the drug is working well for you.

As for me.....not bad, everything is going to plan. Got another Month of treatment to go yet....then I can give that Guinness some stick........

Stay well Viv.

Ken. xx

 

[river-rat-sam]

I got my prescription from my GP on Thursday and next Wednesday I will be seeing the nurse at the hospital who will show me how to inject. So as my children would say ........ five more sleeps then it's Lizard Spit day

Are there any specific questions I need to ask the nurse? They have told me to expect to feel and be sick for four weeks :? which is a bit cr*p as I'm going to Africa on 24th March and will be out in the tribal villages so really hoping I'm only sick for three weeks!

Also I have had A LOT of surgery on my stomach and I have lots of scar tissue inside plus meshes, staples and my stomach has areas which are completely numb. To start off with I thought, hey! I'll inject into the numb bits then I won't feel it :lol: but then it got me thinking maybe the drug won't work properly if it's got to fight its way through all the scar tissue.

What do you think?

oops edited to say thanks

Linda x

 

[sue32]

I've lost 2 stone since starting Byetta - I'm T2. My last HbA1c was down from 8.3 to 7.2. My GP siad that was astounding. I'm following the Glycaemic Load diet. I think I've said all this before!! Senior moment....again!! :lol: I haven't given any insulin since Christmas as my BM's are right down. This morning my fasting was 3.8!!! I feel a lot better in myself, trouble is I have difficulty exercising as I have osteoarthritis too. Diabetes is the least of my problems!!! But I say to anyone try and persevere on the Byetta. Yes, the nausea can be awful from time to time, but it's not the end of the world.

 

[jane22]

I feel so upset today. My GP's nurse would like me to have Byetta so then I had to wait 5 weeks to see the community diabetic nurse at another surgery who agrees with her. However today I have found out that there will be an 18 week wait to see the consultant at the hospital and a further 12 weeks to get the Byetta. Glucophage is no longer doing it's job and the other drugs are just piling the weight on. I seem to spend my days feeling so hungry and desperate for food, it's awful.