Diabetes.Blog.com

1 - How are most of you losing the weight? I mean I havne't lost any and it's really depressing me! Are any of you on a special diet? I have stopped drining any kind of soda and cut down on breads this and that. And I cna't seem to lose weight. (Comment this)

2 - I am not losing as much or as quickly as most so I understand. I know I am eating less on Byetta so I am hoping the loss will start again. I lost 22 right away, but that could have been from going off all the meds that keep weight on you. I am at a stand still for 2 weeks now but am hoping it kicks in soon again. Good thoughts are with you may we both have less of us to see soon.Chula,Take care. Danielle NJ (Comment this)

3 - Only certain days do I feel like I am full full but others I can eat a horse! Thanks Danielle (Comment this)

4 - Chula, I am curious what kind of effects you are getting from the Byetta? BG control? What other meds you are on? Weight? Length of needle? When are you taking in relationship to other meds? How many calories a day? (Comment this)

5 - Chula, I am curious what kind of effects you are getting from the Byetta? BG control? What other meds you are on? Weight? Length of needle? When are you taking in relationship to other meds? How many calories a day?

I am not getting any negative effects Betty. And my BG's are beautiful. I am on Metformin 1000mg a day I am suppose to be on 2000mg but I couldn't handle the tiredness from the Metformin. I might go up to 1500mg at least and take one in the morning. Calories?!?! No I don't follow anything I can't diet because when I fail, I get depressed. So I watch my bread intake and I am totally off soda and sugar. I am on Zoloft, BP medication, and Lipitor. Plus I have Diabetes Insipidus it's a rare form of Diabetes I take DDAVP for that and I am fine. Does that answer that your questions? If not ask away and I will answer if at all possible. Thanks. (Comment this)

6 - I do not know why it said Anonymous usually my info in the box?!?!?! That is weird. (Comment this)

7 - Have been on byetta now for about two months and not losing the weight everyone else is and may have to go on lantus as my morning readings are still high, over 200 most mornings. Just a little information for everyone, looked at all the posst regarding how to travel with byetta and most of the solutions have not been very good. Spent a lot of money over the past two months trying to get a solution that would last more than 4 hours. Finally bought a 6 pack soft sided cooler from www.american-outdoors.com and put two frozen gel packs in it last night and 12 hours later this morning, they had almost not melted at all. Left them in and will check them tonight which would make it 24 hours. Will let everyone know how long they stay frozen. May at last found a solution. Nice thing about the cooler is that for about $6 more, you can have it embroyered and its big enough not to lose. Hope this helps someone. BTW I do not work for them, am an accountant at a music store. (Comment this)

8 - Hi, Chula--I think the reason I have been losing weight on Byetta (7 pounds in 3 weeks) is that I get full so quickly. I used to have an extremely large appetite and ate at least one and a half times what other people eat. Now, I get full so quickly that I really eat about half of a "normal" person's portion. I'm also only able to avoid the nausea if I stick to low-fat foods, so that has been a big change as well. Out of curiosity, I started counted calories and was shocked to discover that I was eating about 800-900 calories per day. I read somewhere that you need at least 1000 a day, so I've been trying to add in a snack after dinner to keep my calories at 1000 or more. I don't know about others' experiences, but in my case at least, it's no mystery why I'm losing weight. (Comment this)

9 - Hi, I'd like to address a couple of things I've read here. The stinging with the injection of Byetta. Someone said to warm the pen. Well I was finding that the injections would sting occasionally and so I started walking around with the glass portion of the pen in my hand for 3-4 mins before fitting a needle and VOILA!!! - no more stinging. I think putting 36 degree anything under your skin has gotta sting once in awhile.

I want to pass along that I use 31g (3/16's of an inch) needles on my pen and they are soooooo tiny that 80%+ of the time you can't feel them go in!! Just compare a 22g needle with a 31g needle and its like night and day. Might as well use what makes it as comfortable as possible.

Last but not least, for me the secret of NO Lunch spike, or reasonable post prandial lunch numbers is to eat a lunch that is almost no carbs. It doesn't matter what the composition is as long as you don't really get many if any carbs. Since I've been doing that my post prandial lunch numbers have been in the 120-130 range vs. 150-200 range for a typical lunch with carbs.

Byetta's great stuff, but we do have to help it along with a sensible diet!! (Comment this)

10 - And one last comment about transport. If you take a small thermos with a good glass liner and put some ice cubes in a plastic baggy(I like crushed ice) in the bottom, your pen and more ice in another plastic baggy on top; you get a solution that isn't terribly expensive, can double as a carrier for your coffee, and will give you MUCH longer than 8 hours if you keep it sealed. Remember, the glass vaccum liner is what does the trick! (Comment this)

11 - Carrie...
I used to have the full feeling in the beginning but it has went away. I am not too happy with the results I am having I am needing to lose this weight that is the main reason I think I was put on it. I had hopes but then again like someone said I need to help it work. I need to find energy to exercise and maye even go on a much more strict diet. (Comment this)

12 - I appreciate everyone's comments. I have lost 15 + pounds in 6 weeks. Mainly, because I cannot eat very much. When we eat out, I have a salad & small appetizer & that's it. I usually don't eat snacks or lunch anymore either - nausea. I have headaches more frequently as time passes too. I am determined to stick with it though. Still on the 5 mcg pen & probably will stay with it till side effects lessen.

I had been exercising 6 days per week before and am still. I swim 3 days & go to Curves to work out 3 days. I plan to lose at least 30 more lbs.

Thanks for the info...Sheila (Comment this)

13 - 2+ weeks on the 5 mcg spit, probably down about 4 or 5 lbs, bgs are much more in control. Definately not as hungry as I used to be. Probably more so when I get home from work in the evening before dinner - guessing Gilly is wearing off from breakfast dose. Interesting to recognize the binge of a couple of cutout pumpkin cookies or a couple small halloween candy bars, even though I am not hungry. I am stopping after one or two because I know how sick I will feel, but will have to work on what the trigger is - although they do taste good - which has always been a driver for my overconsumption. But it is wonderful not to feel that hungry like I used to - obviously the body is controling the insulin production better. Wonder if I'll be able to get off the metformin - only take 500 mg in the morning.

Love this blog - thanks everybody! (Comment this)

14 - Hi, Chula--I'm sorry to hear that Byetta has stopped helping with the appetite control. I haven't had to try this yet, but somewhere on the October board it was mentioned that waiting an hour after the Byetta shot before eating helps with getting that full feeling to kick in. If you try it, let us know if it works for you. I'm glad to hear that your BG readings are great. =) Hang in there. I think the whole diabetes management and weight loss stuff is something we're all constantly trying to figure out. (Comment this)

15 - Good evening all: I tried to follow the comment made in October about waiting the hour before eating after the evening dose, but found that the nausea came back with a big N...so I am not waiting any longer than I have to on that. I have also discovered that milk, and milk products no longer agree with me, and I know now that it is the cheese on the pizza that is doing me in....had a small thin crust piece minus the cheese (and fat) and I was fine, no belching, or reflux at all. I guess I just have to hang in there. See the doc next week for A1C am anxious to see what the last three months have brought....have stopped loosing weight the past couple of weeks, and that is a little discouraging....Good luck all, and thanks for all the comments...they do help.

Nancy (Comment this)

16 - I accidently threw my Byetta pen in the garbage once. When I called the drug company, I told them it had been in the garbage outside overnight (12+ hours)in about 95 degree weather. They said it would be fine to continue reading. So, I wonder how important it is to keep in cool? (Comment this)

17 - chula

I too no longer benefit from the once so nice full feeling. I struggle a lot trying not to eat to much or the wrong stuff. I crave sweets too. I just went on the 10 pen, the first day I felt like I was starving after I ate, now it is settled down some. I sure miss the help it first gave me. I had lost 10 pounds in 2 months. I like the numbers though, as long as I stick to low carb. Good luck. (Comment this)

18 - Chula, think you answered everything except are you on 5 or 10 ? but i think answer is with the med for DI and possible side effects. Are you with really good endocrinologist? Did you have good glucose control before?
Length of needle? body fat abdominal area?

We have been told pen has approximately 144 hours a month at room temperature.
 (Comment this)

19 - Byetta Defeats Pump Usage!!!!

I reported that my endo visit 2 weeks ago indicated that my C-Peptide test showed increased Beta cell activity. My basal rate had been 2 units/hr daytime and 4 units/hr nightime (dawn effect) or about 54u/24hr. Since I measure BGs 8-10 times per day (necessary for tight control with a pump), I noticed that my BGs were going down into the 60s/70s on Monday morning. I kept decreasing my basal until my BGs were staying 95-110 at about 1 unit/hr day/night (about 24 units/24hr). Big Decrease!!!

Yesterday, I had to further decrease my basal rate to about 0.5u/hr (12u/day). Last night, I had to decrease my basal even further.

Finally, this morning - I am using almost 0u/hr (actually 0.05/hr to keep my pump from beeping when shut down).

This is amazing!!! Within 4 months of Byetta use, my A1C went from 8.6 to 5.1; I have stopped taking Actos; I have lost over 40 lbs; cholesterols are down; blood pressure is down; and most of all the PUMP HAS BEEN DEFEATED!!!!! YeeHaw Y'all!!!!

It's working guys, it's really working. Stick with it, if you're having problems at first, it's worth it. (Comment this)

20 - Chula, think you answered everything except are you on 5 or 10 ? but i think answer is with the med for DI and possible side effects. Are you with really good endocrinologist? Did you have good glucose control before?
Length of needle? body fat abdominal area?


I am on the 5mg and this is my second month. With my DI medicatin it has never interfered with any other meds. I don't have an endoncrinologist I might need to find one huh? I had what I thought normal but obviously it was too high for the doctor and she suggested Byetta I think mostly for the weight loss Byetta was causing. Body fat in the adominal? YES I also have PCOS so all of my fat in in the tummy. I am at 379 now but as you can tell I need to lose LOTS more. Even thought of WLS. I am a walking desease bomb with all my problems! (Comment this)

21 - Betty I just made an appointment with the same doctor that actually the one they had to bring in to discover what DI was I remember them talking about not knowing what I had.Thanks for suggesting this. (Comment this)

22 - A word of caution about the ice packs and Byetta in a thermos. Ice can go below freezing so putting very cold ice in a thermos can create a small freezer.
In other words, in a small, highly insuliated container like a thermos, very cold ice can drop the Byetta below the reccommended temperature. Physics 101 teaches us that if there is no melted ice when you open the thermos, there is no doubt that the temperature is at or below 32 degrees, and so is the Byetta.

A solution may be putting a small gel pack, which has been chilled to about 35 degrees, into a glass thermos. This should be good for several hours if you keep the lid on. Someone might try this and let us know how it works. (Comment this)

23 - zepnot, thank you for the reminder about using ice in a thermos. I use ice in my thermos, but I don't pack it full. I also have a thermometer in the ziplock, so I can keep track of the temperature. If need be, I add a few cubes, but definitely don't pack it full.

I used a Coleman Extreme cooler with a block of ice during our 3 week vacation. I put the Byetta box with ziplock bag on top of the ice and it held the temperature quite well. Sometimes it would go to 30 degrees, but it didn't seem to affect the Byetta any. During really cold, freezing nights, (we were camping), I brought the Byetta inside the tent trailer.

On the whole, I survived 3 weeks keeping the Byetta at the proper temperature without much hassle. (Comment this)

24 - I was one of ones with bad nausea with Byetta - so I stayed on 5 micrograms for 6 weeks. However, in the last week my bg has been creeping up again. I have gotten the sea-bands bracelets for nausea and they help. Today I moved up to 10 micrograms. So far - so good. I hope to get back to losing weight like I did in the first weeks.

Cowgirl (Comment this)

25 - Anonymous,
It is very important to keep it cool and you were lucky that yours was still good. I just finished six days of using a "dead" pen which was my first 10 mcg one. Since I had not had any nausea oe other effects from the 5 pen I didn't notice for a day or two that my morning numbers were in the 160s instead of the 120s average I had had on the 5 pen. Then the weekend came and I couldn't call the endo til Monday so I went back to the NO carb diet over the weekend and the only change was some weight loss. I got a new 10mcg pen by paying full price and pointing out to the pharmacist that when I got the "dead one it had been out on the counter while I waited the 45 minutes for the prescription and that I live 25 minutes from there. When I told him I just wanted another and would pay full price for it but wanted it to come right out of the refrigerator and I would be waiting for it, he got it out, put the label on it and handed it directly to the cashier to ring up. I took it home immediately, took an injection before dinner and the end to this shaggy dog story is that ny BG was 119 the next morning(about 50 points lower than the previous morning's reading)!!! This morning was 122 which for me is good news since I have a very strong dawn phenomenon.
Toni (Comment this)

26 - As a follow-up to Toni's comments on pen coolness, I even take my cool pack with me to the pharmacy to pick it up and transport it with. It comes out of the box, into the cool pack, home, into the box, into the fridge.

Additionally, I tolerate the stinging in order to keep it cool. My first pen was ruined by only 2 hours exposure to 85 degree temps (IN A COOLER!!!), while traveling in my car. My child took some items out of the cooler on the way back during a trip. The pen was moved to the top of the cooler, on top of the other items and the cooler lid was left open in the back of the van.

When I injected the next day, there was no BG drop, no nausea. Don't take the 144 hour recommendation from Amylin as foolproof. We don't know how the pen has been handled during shipping and at the pharmacy. (Comment this)

27 - Traveling

Hi Folks, I am off on a trip tomorrow to join up with my wife at a conference in Jacksonville. When she got to the hotel she requested a refrigerator in the room and they said that it would cost $20 per night. She told them that it was for diabetic medicine and they are not charging her for it now. So just speak up and the hotels seem to be willing to make accomodations.

My next trick will be getting through security at the airport with a thermos in my carry-on. I'll have the box with the prescription label in my bag, but the pen will be in the thermos. (Now I just hope they don't notice the corrective shoe on my left foot that is built up to compensate for one leg being shorter than the other...)

I'll be back Sunday and will let you know next week if I have any problems.

Jim in DC (Comment this)

28 - Any Transplant patients on Byetta? (Comment this)

29 - Just a follow up on the soft sided 6pack cooler I posted about yesterday. After 24 hours the gel packs had melted but the inside temp was still at 43 degrees. (Comment this)

30 - This may be of some help to those of you that travel with Byetta;
I found a small but heavily insulated bag at Target, in the baby section, that easily holds the Byetta pen and a small block of "blue ice". The bag is made by Avent and the one I found is grey (not baby designs) in color, is about 6x8x1"
I travel often either fly or drive and this keeps my pen cold and ice still frozen even in the Texas heat.
Also all Holiday Inn Express hotels have a fridge w/freezer in the rooms where I can keep my pen cold and ice frozen at night.
(Just dont forget and leave the pen in the fridge when you leave...I set the bag on the fllor by the door so I wont forget it)
Woorks great, fits in breif case, keeps it cold and is cheap! (Comment this)

31 - First time posting here. 40 years old and on metformin 2000mg/day, avandia 4 mg/day and Byetta 10 mcg/day. Before byetta was on humolog 1-3 units prior to each meal and still having post meal BS 150-200 despite trying to keep carbs under 30 mg per meal. Not overweight, never have been. My family is all thin and some of them developed DM quite young so I guess its a genetic tendency to weak pancreases. Not insulin resistant but w/ very poor beta cell function. Low fasting insulin (less than 2) and low C-peptide too.
Since starting Byetta 3 months ago am completely off insulin and eating much more liberally with post meal bs's 80to 120. Fastings same before and after at about 90. Have not lost any weight but was about 105-110 both before and after at 5'3" so was not really hoping to lose weight. Don't see any change in appetite and have had only mild nausea and heartburn. (Comment this)

32 - To TIM FAT:)

AWESOME!!!!!I know you are TICKLED!!!!CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! I too have had remarkable results. Lost 40, bg scarry normal, even had to have a cardiac cath due to feeling chest pain Ihave never felt(small vessel disease). Will have doc ck my C-peptide,and A1c next week while I am in Memphis. Can't wait for the LA, as I will be traveling by plane weekly starting in Jan. I wasn't on the pump, but I have come off insulin and avandia, and now my bp med as well. I really do want a I Love my Gila Monster
bumper sticker! Hope everyone can stick with this, the results really do change your life!!! (Comment this)

33 - I am new at this only three days into it, but i cant seem to eat much at all after i take my pm dose. Does anybody know what happens if you cant eat after taking byetta? Hope someone can help me here! Thanks (Comment this)

34 - Tammy, I think it varies from person to person. I am not on any other diabetes medications (anymore) and so I don't get the lows. If I don't eat, it really doesn't cause me any problems. So, it really does depend what other medications you are on and if you have problems with hypoglycemia. (Comment this)

35 - I am on actos 45mg metformin 1000mg glipizide 20 mg and now byetta 5mg 2 times a day I cant seem to eat very much at all but the lowest i have gotten is 84. Where u ever on anything else and how long have u had diabetes? (Comment this)

36 - I just started the 5 pen 2 weeks ago and so far it is working very well. I had a double lung transplant 7 years ago and became diabetic shortly after from the medications and nothing was working to control the swings from 40 to 600. This has so far gotten me into the high 100 and below range which for me is excelent.

The slight sick feeling and fullness I think is a good thing for me. I have absolutly no interest in eating more than a normal portion at each meal and feel sick if I over eat.

 (Comment this)

37 - Tammy, I've had diabetes for almost 3 years and was on Metformin 2000 mg, Actos 45 mg and Lantus insulin. I was able to stop the Actos and Lantus almost immediately after starting the Byetta and discontinued the Metformin about a month later. My blood sugars have been textbook perfect.

Because of years of insulin resistance, I don't notice lows until they get into the 40's:). But that is just me and I would certainly not suggest that anyone else let their blood sugar drop that far. My guess is that the glipizide might cause you to drop pretty low (blood sugar that is) and not eating after using Byetta might not be an option for you. But the best person to check this out with is your physician and diabetes educator. (Comment this)

38 - DaveC, Thanks. My doctor want me to start Byetta but I was thinking about my anti-rejection meds. How do you take your meds with the Byetta? (Comment this)

39 - I'm into my third week as a lizard lover with two missed doses because the other morning, I stupidly stuck the pen in the freezer instead of the refrigerator. Fortunately, the following day, my endo replaced the pen with a new one and I could resume. I was concerned because I'm traveling today to Florida from NY and knew my drug store wouldn't be able to order a new one in time for the trip.

I noticed that the first shot with the new pen last night seemed a bit more potent in terms of added feeling of nausea, but it was still controllable with mints - thanks to all of you who have suggeste that as an aid.

This will be my first trip with Byetta and I have a Frio pouch that's supposed to be good for maintaining coolness for many hours. I'll let you know how it works.

As for weight loss, I find that although I've always been a fast eater, I am consciously slowing myself down to give my body time to register what I've taken in and notice that fairly quickly, I find myself feeling full. I eat very lightly with 2 to 3 snacks a day between meals.

The one day I overate a bit, I didn't experience pain, but had an uncomfortable bloated feeling for several hours. I have found myself able to eat lightly spiced Mexican food and expect to try pizza for the first time this week, but will be cautious.

Canned beans were the one thing I found difficult to eat and after only a few spoons, found myself feeling uncomfortable, so that's something I won't have often if at all.

What I know is that Byetta isn't magical if you don't eat right, but where I could diet carefully without Byetta and with 30 mg. of Actos, I would still gain weight. Now dieting the same way with the Actos and Byetta, I am able to lose slowly. It's only been a few pounds, but I notice inches are melting away and a slow weight loss is fine after more than a year of struggling and gaining weight on Actos alone.

As always, thanks to all who are sharing opinions. This blog is a lifeline!

Julie

 (Comment this)

40 - I took the 5 pen for a month and had nausea after AM shot. It didn't go away over time. When I went on a cruise vacation I decided not to take the byetta. I grew up around boats of all sizes and do not get seasick but didn't want to chance rough seas if I was already nauseated. I watched very carefully what I ate. The first few days I seemed to have residual full feeling from the byetta. Then my appetite returned to pre-byetta. My numbers went up a little but not to where they were pre-byetta. I have been back on PM only byetta 5 pen for 4 days. Having nausea for first time in PM but not as bad as AM. I also have a bad cold - probably thanks to a long flight home. I go back to 2 shots on Sunday. Will be having bloodwork on the 14th. I will have been on byetta for only 6 weeks of the 3 months since last blookwork but still expect a lower A1c. I am determined to stay with it at least long enough to lose enough weight to drop some medications. I think without some of the other diabetes medicine and bs under control, I can continue to manage weight and bs.

BTW - I missed this blog terribly while on vacation!!

 (Comment this)

41 - Chris & A.L.O.

Congratulations to both of you on being able to discontinue insulin usage!!!! It's depressing to think that you may be on insulin for the rest of your life in a no-win situation.

I'm not going to call this Synthetic Lizard Spit a miracle drug just yet (though tempted). However, it has had a remarkably miraculous effect on my system so far. If this keeps up for the next 2 or 3 years then, yes I will call it a miracle drug!!! (Comment this)

42 - Julie:

Your Frio pouch will not keep the Byetta cold enough. We tested this device back in July. It is designed for insulin use at 65 - 70 degrees. If you use it, your pen may be ruined if it is kept in the pouch beyond the 144 hour limit in your travels to and fro.

Again, the FRIO pouch has been tested and found to be incapable of Byetta usage. Use the thermos bottle solution, cold blue travel pack or some other solution!!! (Comment this)

43 - I dont know if this was mentioned or not, but if you are going on short travels or going out to dinner or anywhere, on the byetta website they have a free travel pack and it comes with two refridgerator packets and it just zips into the holder, it has two zippers on the outside so you can put a couple of needles in it and an elastic thingy to hold your pen inside https://secure.hibbertgroup.com/byetta/init.do.
If that dont work, try www.byetta.com/welcome
 (Comment this)

44 - The Byetta travel pak is OK as it arrives for about 3 hours. The gel packs, as shipped, are not freezable only refridgerated capable. In order to extend this pack usage more than 2 to 3 hours, it is necessary to replace the gel packs with freezable blue Ice packs.

The Medicool product (Byetta specific device) handles 8 - 10 hours.

Longer term solution of indefinite periods (without below freezing temps VERY IMPORTANT!!!), seems to be a Stainless Steel Stanley Thermos with the vacuum glass liner solution. Some pre-cooling, a couple of ice cubes and Byetta pen in a plastic bag. When needed just replace the ice cubes with those from your recently consumed beverage and you're ready to go again. (Comment this)

45 - Tim F... Be it the change of when I take my orals or as you say "bang" it just happens, I haven't had spikes in over a week. It's a good thing.

Ok all... Got my first test results back since starting Byetta. A1C went from 7.8 to 5.9. That also is a good thing. But he called me in for additional tests (calcium, thyroid and something else). Hello - they've got me taking calcium 'cause I'm an old gal and can't take Fosimax. Bet they stop that. When I close here I have to go back and see if I can find the comments about thyroid (unless some kind sole can remember them better than me). (Comment this)

46 - I am supposed to start on Byetta tomorrow. I just found this blog in my research....thanks for all your info. (Comment this)

47 - Nanct W.---
You WILL have a lower A1C. I had only been on Byetta for 3 weeks and mine went from 7.3 to 6.8!! (Comment this)

48 - Hello all my fellow Lizards. Went to my endo today byetta is working great all my # were great. Now for a very BIG THANK YOU,THE WRIST BANDS ARE GREAT NO NAUSEA . What would we do without this blog??? Or our wonderful Betty and Dr. Bill. I feel like I have made a entire town of new friends. Thank you all for all your advice and support. Oh! I also found out I lost 6 more Pounds. I thought I was the same but I'll take the scales word for it. Talk soon , as always Good Health is wished for all of you. Danielle, NJ{{{{{{{}}}}}}} (Comment this)

49 - I've been on Byetta for nearly two months now, 5 mcg 1 month and 10 mcg 3 weeks. My appetite is nearly back to normal. My full feeling isn't coming on now. I'm not taking nausea medicine or anything. Does anyone know what could be happening? I feel NORMAL. (Comment this)

50 - Missy, Are you sure the pen you have is working. I think I read on the blog that some of our fellow lizards had defective pens. I am still on the 5 mg. I asked my Doctor to keep me on it since it is still curbing my appetite and I am still losing weight. I started on byetta first week of Sept. And the 5 still works for me if thats any help to you.Normal is not a word you see on this blog coming from we lizards. so maybe pen should be checked Good Health Danielle NJ (Comment this)