Byetta 20: April 23 – October 23, 2006 (this forum is now CLOSED!)
As of October 23, this discussion forum for Byetta is closed. Please see Byetta 21: October 23 -, which is the follow-up Discussion Forum for Byetta.
It was the 20th in a series of Byetta Discussion Forums, and 47th Discussion Forum at Diabetes.Blog.com. There is a listing of other Byetta Discussion Forums at a separate webpage: List of Byetta Forums. By the way, you’ll also find some information about Byetta at other Discussion Forums, including Traveling with diabetes, odds’n'ends and research about meds.
Also, you can still read the earlier comments (at the earlier weekly and monthly Byetta forums), and search for information throughout those forums, by using your webbrowser’s FIND or SEARCH feature while at the earlier forums, or by searching at the advanced search feature that is at the Diabetes Monitor.
Please review and follow our ground rules (at http://diabetes.blog.com/690512/). To share your thoughts, use the “Comments” link immediately below.
Bill the diabetesdoc
wwq@diabetesmonitor.com
Diabetes.Blog.Com is a blogcompanion to our main website, the Diabetes Monitor, which you can find at www.DiabetesMonitor.com
Welcome Dianne Swindler,
We are happy to help you and encourage you here on this blog. I agree with Geri, if you let us know what it is you are scared about concerning Byetta maybe we can chat with you about it. I think for me the day I started taking Byetta was the day I started to get my life back to restored good health again! It was the best health decision I made in years. I was told a few years ago that if I didn’t get my bg’s under control I would be blind before I was 50 at the rate I was going. At one time my A1C was almost 12.(11.9 I think it was) She said she didn’t know how much damage that might have done to my organs and my body. I tried many oral meds and still my A1C got no better than 8 and I gained a tremendous amount of weight and felt horrible! I was given a choice of insulin injections or Byetta injections, it was injections either way and I was told insulin could contribute to weight gain so I gave Byetta a try. BEST DECISION I COULD EVER HAVE MADE!!! I have an A1C of 5.5 now, have lost 40 pounds, have great cholesterol, coming off almost all oral meds, Thyroid meds have been reduced twice, have more energy than I’ve had in years and just overall feel so much better. I was terrified of the injection part, yes, a really chicken, but it was SO EASY with these thin needles and you rarely even feel it! You will be a pro in no time and hopefully you will have a great experience with this drug as most of us have had! Hope you give it a try! GO GILLY!
Hello Jaeme,
I’m sorry this is happening to you because they may take you off of Byetta. I had “welts” at the injection sites only, not a full blown break out of hives all over my body with swollen lips, etc. and my welts (some really wicked, the size of a nickel or quarter especially red and ugly if I injected on my thighs) went on for MONTHS from the day I first injected and as soon as I started to eat more alkaline foods and quit taking that Avandia my welts disappeared. They started getting more and more faint as the Avandia was getting out of my system (which takes several weeks btw) and after it was out of my system, the welts were gone! But if you have hives all over your body and swollen lips you seem to be having a serious allergic reaction to something for sure. I wonder what may have been on the end of your pen too? That is really odd. Does it look like the spit has crystalized on there somehow? I have put the spit directly on my skin to see if it caused my welts and it did nothing. I was desperatly trying to figure out what was happening to me. It was happening only when I injected it though. Now I believe I was way too acid in my system. (I am totally free of them now thanks to help from Leah and getting more alkaline instead of acid. Her list of alkaline foods in posted in the Meals,Eating, and Nutrition forum) But I wonder if something has contaminated the end of your pen somehow? I sure hope you are alright and that you won’t have to stop taking the spit. Take care and let us know about you, ok.?
Scruffy Kim and John Irwin,
Hello fellow spitkins! I had irratic bg’s when I first started both the 5 and the 10 pens. In fact my bg’s rose for about 10 days each time before dropping. It was weird to me but my Endo said not so uncommon and she wasn’t concerned about that. I was glad to see them finally starting to drop some though. I have read others that reported less effective results on the 10 and went back to the 5 and stayed there never to return to Big Brother, and some went back to the 5 then later tried the 10 again with great results the second try. So talk it over with your Doctors if things don’t stabilize for you, but be a little patient at first because it does take time to really see what is going on in the beginning. Later after your body adjusts to it more and you level out you should be able to easily spot a trend or a major change in your bg’s or weight loss or appetite, etc. to detect if something might be wrong, etc. Things are a bit wacky at first usually as your body is adapting. (at least it was for me!)
LADIES ONLY!! This one is for the ladies only, sorry guys, skip down or close your eyes. I am curious if anyone has noticed any hormonal changes or changes in menstrual cycle since being on byetta? I had to leave work today for the first time ever due to excessive menstrual cramps. I took tylenol but of course it didnt help since it was probably not digested for hours. Any ideas?
Diane Swindler, I just started on byetta 10/7 and I was terrified and panicked the first time. I have even had my share of dizziness (which could also have been anxiety induced) and no sickness at all. I think I have lost some weight because ppl tell me I look like it but I have not gotten on the scale yet. My numbers are much better and I think in the long term I will be better off for it. Nothing to be too afraid of and the injections dont hurt. In fact, pricking my finger for the blood sugar testing hurts way worse. Give it a try.
Cindylou in NC-Age 48-T2 on 1/4/94 Byetta10 on 12/9/05 1/2Glyburide 2.5 bedtime, Synthroid , Thanks CindyLou,
I think I may have contributed to the problem, there were a number of things going wrong. I was getting a drop of Byetta on the tip of the needle when I’d put the needle on. A few times I stored the Byetta with the needle still attached. I used a needle 2x a few times… lots of things I shouldn’t have done. (the 2x use of needle for insulin is approved by many Docs)
The stuff in the bottom of the pen looks like either dried glue, or a powdery substance. White. Between the pen and the gold part. Quite possibly crystals which settled there. Have to say I was super impressed with the Amilyn hotline, I had a new Rx for free within 10 minutes of hanging up with them.
I also have an inordinately stressful personal issue going on at the moment–so something that might’ve started as a minor irritation could’ve exploded because of my body’s stress response.
I am definitely going to try to work on pH. I had an overabundance of coffee the day or two this started. I’d cut waaay back, but the nausea lifted, and I was able to drink *much* more.
I also posted over at the skin issues blog, I got some Alka Seltzer Gold as an ‘emergency’ alkalyzing measure–but I can’t find info on how much/often to take. Interestingly–Mannitol is an additional ingredient in it. Would love anyone’s take on that!
Thanks for the support guys. It’s great to know I’m not alone. I am being careful, if things don’t improve or get any worse, certainly I will stop. Haven’t used Byetta today, will start the new pen in the a.m. My choice today was ER or nothing, I was NOT bad enough for the ER for sure. I *will* go if it gets any worse. Not going to mess with my health! I know how dangerous allergic reaction can be.
Diane in Illinois–Hair Loss
I am one of the people who had hair loss during the first months on Byetta. I even got a small bald spot at the back of my head. The endo said hair loss is a symptom of insulin resistance. The hair started to grow back some time this Spring or Summer. Now the bald spot is gone and some of my hair is only half as long as the rest. Coincidentally, this summer is when I went off the Metformin and am now solo on the spit(plus the Zestril and Lipitor). I know I will never have as much hair as when I was younger, but it is growing back some. So, don’t give up hope, it will probably start to grow back when your A1c gets down to the “normal” range. Good luck!
Hi all need some help. Does anyone know what is the longest time for Byetta to kick in. I have experienced the appetite suppression and weight lost – 12 lbs so far but my BS are way out of wack and today I got my numbers from my GP BG 193, cholesterol 240 and trigliceride were a shopping 500! My Aic was 8 up 1 point since before byetta. Its my tryglycerides that concern me. I am following an alkaline diet and that has almost eliminated the nausea but I subsituted butter for margarine once a day on english muffin with breakfast. Could a couple of pats of butter do this. I cut way back on my other fats.
You are all a blessing thanks for listening
Is there a problem with missing a dose of byetta?
Do you just pick up the next scheduled time?
Tried getting on the byetta website, but can’t
access it right now.
JANE:
This issue has come up before, and the recommendation by Amylin is, I believe, to skip the dose and take the next one at the scheduled time.
JAEME:
Mannitol has been a big topic of discussion here in the past. Please use the “search diabetes.blog.com” feature on the right and you will find much to read about it. Glad you were able to get a new pen so quickly.. that was definitely a “spoiled ” pen. Hope you can do better now..
trishz5 in PHx on Byetta 5 6 weeks, 25 insulin 2x, I’ll add to Leah’s answer in meals, nutrition, and eating.
It took me about 10 days on the 10mcg pen to stbilize, but for the last several days, there have been no BG surprizes.
I’m keeping a spreadsheet to show the doctor with the samples and what I ate recorded. I color code the cells; pink for moderately high and red for low or over 200. For the last few days, there are no reds or pinks. The color-coded chart really shows the trend nicely.
The chart also shows good consistency in the results of like meals. I get a BG reading within a range of +-2 several hours after eating a favorite lunch. OTOH, I have observed a substantial BG kick after eating certain packsged meals that advertise very low carbs and high fiber. I get bit once and stay away thereafter.
One of my favorite packaged meals is eggplant parmesan. It is filling and I get great readings afterward.
Oh, and my scales hit a new low this morning: 218, down from 232.
BarbN; T2 byetta 10, Lantus 50, metformin 1000 plus other meds, Miki, I have not insurance right now so I went to Walmart, if you have one nearby, and I bought Reli On brand of machine for less than $9.°°! Then I bought a box of 50 test strips for $21. That is what you may pay after some insurance companies copays. The reason, this machine comes with an alternative pen top so you can test off alternate sights, lower thumb, fore arm, upper arm.
I am about to take my first 5m shot this am. I have gone thru alot of hoops to get the Spit but, today is my day. I am T2 for about 9 years now. I will have some toast for breakfast and watch for naseau but I have that anyhow, eat or not, meds or not, frequently in the am. My bg was 223 this am. I will take it again about 2 hours after the Spit, right?
Pam Johnson
Pam Johnson, Welcome and good luck with the spit today. You might check out the byetta basics to get a start on things. It’s to the right above the disclaimer. It’s only the basics and if you have any other questions you can always ask or do the search. Great info about the meter and cost. I would say to test about 3-4 hrs after eating but at first you may need to test alot more to find when you have your peaks. We are all different. I don’t test as much now as I did in the beginning altho I still test no less than 3 times per day. You may experience nausea from a low and not from eating the wrong type of food and the only way to know is to test. Again good luck and let us know how it goes.
just thought I’d update… I was pleasantly *shocked* this morning to wake up with NO hives, rash, swelling or itching. I’d taken some Alka Selzter Gold last night, figuring it couldn’t hurt, and would make me less drowsy at work than the Benadryl. Well, it sure worked!
Only one day off Byetta. Took the first dose from the new pen about 45 minutes ago. I do have a small welt from a ‘false start’. The needle hurt quite a bit the first place I tried on my belly. First time that’s happened. There is a small welt there like a mosquito bite. Not itchy though.
I still got a drop on the end of the needle when I put the needle on. Used a new/clean needle after pen setup as I wanted to avoid that… but still got a drop, even with the pen reset to the arrow. Since I am skin-allergic to things, I suspect that as a problem. Any suggestions?
John Irwin,
John Irwin, two comments about your message.
1) Great job on posting your numbers to a spreadsheet and color coding them. I personally use a software that is for my meter that basically does the same thing. It pulls the data from my meter and then it generates all kinds of graphs. You are well on the road to getting control of your diabetes. When you watch things this closely you are able to start seeing exactly what things such as particular foods or timing of meals are the weak spots in your control. I firmly believe that if you took a poll of people you would find that those with the best A1c’s typically do this sort of thing.
2) Your weight loss, GREAT JOB!!! After you’ve been on the heavy side for a while every time you hit the scales and get even one more pound off it feels great doesn’t it!
You undoubtedly will have a continued great Byetta experience and same as myself will start feeling better than you have in a long time.
jaeme, I don’t have the drip problem anymore. I was told by the hotline to hold the plunger end down hard for a count of 5 or 6 but I do 10. Then I turn the dial while still inserted to the right facing arrow hold down again for a count of 5 then withdraw. I always hold the pen with the needle up to prevent leaking. I also dial the pen up after inserting the needle always holding the pen up. Try that and see if that helps. Hotline says by holding the plunger down hard it makes sure all of the med is pushed out.
JOHN and WARREN: I agree that testing and keeping good records is what keeps us on track. In the study I’m in they have also found that those of us who recorded everything were more successful than those who didn’t.
geri in Co, T2 in 1998, 10 byetta (7/06), 2.5 2/x glucotrol XL, 1000 mg metformin ER 2/x, Lantus 25U at bed, I really appreciate your responses, GERI and DANIELLE. I suppose I have one stressor.. I am not trying to be gross, but I do get horrible diarrhea from the metformin. The Byetta has neutralized the problem to “tolerable with planning for emergencies”. Sometimes, 6-8 episodes in the late evening 4-5 days a week. Do you suppose that might be driving up the BS? Maybe I’m dehydrated? H’mm you ladies got me thinking.
Toni in California T2 since 1986– B10 since10/05, formerly on Glucotrol, Actos & GlucophageXR, Toni in California
Thanks for giving me the encouragement about my hair loss. I’ve been obsessing for a couple weeks now. The Byetta brought my A1C down to 6.5 and I’ve lost 20 lbs since mid May,’06. I’m hoping the reduction in Methformin will slow the hair loss thing. Knowing that it very well may start to regrow is what I had hoped for. Thank you so much for the support.
Jo 54IL T2 Byetta 5 Metformin 1000 BID, I just wanted to mention that I had the same problem when I was on the regular metformin but when my dr switched me to the extended release it went away. You might ask your dr about trying the extended release and see if it helps you.
i am on my second pen and i am having just the opposite problem from diahrrea!! Am sometimes having
a 3/4 day period that I do not have a BM. Is this
because of the byetta. Didn’t notice it at the beginning at all.
Hello Byetta users. I’ve been on the spit since March 06 and have had great results with it. Had some mild nausea and lost 8 lbs the first month, 7 lbs the 2nd month and have dropped to about 2 lbs a month after that. I had been on glyburide, (dropped glyburide) Actos and glucophage before and was having my blood sugars steadily climb over the years. Finally decided that I’d have to go on insulin when my Dr. suggested Byetta.
Have had some hair loss, and feel cold and also some tooth pain. Dentist said teeth were fine. Will try upping my intake of vit D. My last checkup the Dr said the HDL, LDL, Cholesteron and tryglicerides were in the NORMAL range. I haven’t been normal in years. Thank you Byetta!
Jaeme:
I will second Geri’s solution of
“I was told by the hotline to hold the plunger end down hard for a count of 5 or 6 but I do 10. Then I turn the dial while still inserted to the right facing arrow hold down again for a count of 5 then withdraw.”
We arrived at the same procedure on this board last September 2005 and passed it on the Amylin help desk. It reduces the pressure in the medicine cartridge so that the meds aren’t forced out when a new needle is attached. My skin is slightly sensitive also and the drops on the needle are avoided at all costs.
jane,IL,metformin-1500mgdaily, glucotrolXL5mgdaily, actos-45mgdaily, cholesterol meds, BP meds, Jane: I also had that problem for a few months. I have increased fiber by eating more vegetables and drinking additional water. Good Luck!
I am a sales representative promotitng Byetta to physicians and I wanted to thank all of you for your Byetta comments. It makes my job so much better knowing that everyday I can help change a patient’s life. I am thrilled that so many patients benefit from Byetta and you help others “learn” how to properly take Byetta. It makes my job so much easier. Again, thank you!!!!
hello all…
just a few comments regarding what others have recently posted-
metformin and diarrhea-i suffered terribly with that for almost 10 months, and finally had to give up. the extended release was no better for me.
hives/rashes- i have developed a few spots (two belly, one lower back) that seem to have had a rash, which i obviously scratched, and they are now all scabby. it’s clear to me these developed when i was not alkaline enough.
**question** where and how and what are they called…the test for alkalinity/acidity i read about here?
FOR THOSE OF YOU EXPERIENCING HAIR LOSS:
There is a shampoo called Nioxin that I have found very helpful in restoring hair growth. I did not lose it from the spit but rather following gastric bypass 6 years ago. I have always had a really thick head of hair and w/in a year from the surgery, I am back to my hairy head. Good luck and best wishes to all.
Dawn In GA,byetta5 ,no other diab meds, 5mg ziac for bp, See 3428 I had called Byetta hot line and was told there were reports of hormoneal changes while on Byetta.
Just an update – I continue to take my oral meds just before bedtime, with a snack of canned peaches and my fasting BG is now down in the 80s – 89 this morning! Almost two weeks of fasting readings way under 120. I have not been able to get my AM reading down under 140 for years and years! I was almost hesitant to take my Byetta this AM, but didn’t want to miss it so made sure I had a slightly higher carb breakfast so as not to have a low episode. I’m off the Actos now and only take 2 mg Glimepiride (Amaryl) and 2000 mg Metformin per day. I’m hoping to be able to lower the Metformin by half soon. On the downside, it would be nice if after 6 months on the spit I weren’t still so nauseous!
Hope everyone has a great Monday!
Hello Spitkins everywhere!
Wow Toni on Long Island! Great report! Double digit mornings now is awesome! It sounds like you are balancing things well and are having a happy dance with the lizard! That is great! I hope you can continue to drop or reduce your oral meds too! Glad you are off the Actos now! GO GILLY!!!
Hello Tami in NY,
Leah is the blog a/a balance expert and she has listed the foods that are more alkaline in the MEALS, EATING, NUTRITION FORUM. The Byetta is apparently already acid and added with other drugs and foods can really throw us over too far acid (especially for me when added with Avandia). There are test strips which you can buy and an excellent book–all talked about in the other forums. Most discussion has taken place in SKIN CONDITIONS FORUM and M,E,N FORUM. Hope this helps.
I started Byetta 2 weeks With 500mg of metform.No problems until 2 days ago. I feel really tired and my head feels foggy? Does this make sence to anyone out there?By the way I have lost 12 LBS
from:
http://richandthin.bravehost.com/achive7312006.html
The second BYETTA development update I would like to share with you today is progress towards clearly enhancing the convenience of using BYETTA for our patients. As you know, we currently instruct patients to refrigerate their pens, or to use a cool pack between doses. We have recently demonstrated the stability of BYETTA at room temperature for the full 30-day pen lifespan. We will provide this additional data and work with the FDA to obtain approval for a change in storage instructions. We anticipate that these new, more convenient instructions might be in use by patients in early 2007.
We are right on track with enrollment for the comparative clinical study of Exenatide LAR in patients with Type II diabetes. The enrollment plan for this study is linked to the manufacturing scale-up plan and it enables us to use larger-scale clinical material in this study, as well as the extension phase. As we have previously stated, we expect the study to be completed in the second half of 2007.
Hi Trish, I am in Phx metro too.
So, I am down 5lbs since 10/5 when I started taking Byetta. That’s cool. Now if I could get my tired butt up and work out in the morning,it would probably be double that.
18 days til my next dr. appt and I leave for Europe that day. If Byetta people think it doesn’t need to be refrigerated, maybe I will take it with me and see what happens. I love the appitite supression and I have no other side effects (except that I am cold, but I don’t mind that living in the desert). I am still on 5 and have another 5 pen at home, will see if dr. up’s to 10 but won’t start till 2nd pen is gone (when I get back from Italy, don’t want to make myself sick).
WOOOHOOOO
Have been off line since the spring – - Now one year on BYETTA – - LOST 38lbs – - A1c 6 – - fanatic about gym 3 times a week jog 2 miles every day feel best shape in 30 yrs 6’1″ 205lbs same as my discharge papers 48 yrs ago – -