Byetta 7: January, 2006
There is a separate Byetta forum for long-term users of Byetta, at Byetta long-term use. By the way, you'll also find some information about Byetta at two other Discussion Forums: odds'n'ends, and research about meds.
This January Byetta forum was activated to allow comments on January 1, and at that time, the December Byetta Discussion Forum was deactivated to prevent more posts to that forum. However, you can still read the earlier comments (at the December, November, October, September, August, and July 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.
Bill the diabetesdoc
Diabetes.Blog.Com is a blogcompanion to our main website, the Diabetes Monitor, which you can find at www.DiabetesMonitor.com
Blood Sugars: Very Erratic all over the place. Part of it I am sure was diet at first as Holiday binge and flu like symptoms did not help. But been on Low Carb very strict for a few days morning readings around 185, Post meals about the same or a little less. They have not been down to low 100’s in a few days. But from reading posts here I expect it to change. I’m not overly concerned
Insomnia: I sleep 4-5 hours and then wide-awake. Not sleepy not tired have good energy.
Sniffles: Big time lots of sneezing too.
Rash under Arms: Does not itch but red all around out side of armpits. Seems to leave awhile then return.
Diarrhea: A lot almost uncontrollable.
Weight Loss: I never weigh it’s the fastest way to lose your desire to succeed. But I can see my face thinner and feel clothes that were snug before feeling lose.
Appetite: Hardly exists. I have to make myself eat. I have 50 gram protein shake in the morning and eat small balanced meal at night. I try to make myself have a snack or something at lunch but I am not hungry all day. I did notice that when I was forcing myself to eat over the holidays just to try foods. My stomach could not take it and I had constant bloated feeling.
Belching: Still happening but going away some.
I am on 5 pen but I got a sample plus when I filled Prescription I got 2 more rather then one. I took it as a license to go ahead and try using 10 instead. But after couple of days decided it was not wise. I will stay at 5 until I go back to Doctor in March. I work Offshore so need to get my medicine before leaving. Had enough to do 10 but better wait:)
I am taking a little extra Amyral 1 mg instead of 1/2 now to try and help those numbers get back down. But I do not want to depend on any sulfonylurea medicine or Insulin. My theory is you will not lose weight taking them and long term are not good idea. Goal is to be off them and only use my own Insulin. Taking 2000 XR Metformin
Happy New Year to All. (Comment this)
first of all my wife is the diabetic, not me. She has been on Byetta since nov 1st and has been experiencing the queasiness feeling on most mornings. I did a google search on byetta expecting bad news but changed my feelings after reading the december forum. I now realize that her worst feeling of nausea come after eating a realatively big breakfastlike yesterday, she had scrambled eggs, a hashbrown and a piece of bacon. her nausea pretty much put her down for the most of the morning and afternoon. On the mornings that her breakfasts consists of toast and fruit she''s usually fine. It seems to be working well though, she has been losing weight, at least to be noticable to me because she doesn''t like giving out that information. the only two issues I have is that her sugar in the morning doesn''t change much from her sugar from the previous evening. the other issue is almost a nonissue when compared with the results, the cost, the wife is on state insurance and here in CT they don''t cover new medicines, so we end up paying $225.00 a month for this. Like i said with the results she is getting I don''t mind paying but it''s a pretty good chunk of change.
I would like to thank everyone on the forum for posting some good info that has changed my feelings.
James and Lizzy in CT (Comment this)
I have been on the Big B for 3-4 weeks and I began taking 3 inj a day while awaiting my 10 pen. I am trying to calm the monster before he rears his head.I do not feel any different, or even notice that I am on 3 inj a day. I want to know if this helped anyone else during the transistion.Instead, I was also thinking that maybe taking 2 inj. in the evening (of 5 mcg) and one in the am for a week before the transistion might help. Any imput is always valued and appreciated. (Comment this)
I have been on the big brother for going on a week. I can''t tell the different between quizieness and dizziness. I mean when I walk around I feel like I am on an uncontrollable roller coaster until I sit down. That is for like 4 hours after the injection. Does this sound familiar to anyone? It takes some getting used to I do know that. And since being on the BIG brother my appetite is completely GONE. I too have to force myself to eat but I do have to say it''s hard to do that. Now on the 5mg it went in spurts with the appetite but with 10mg I am lucky I eat twice a day I hate to force myself and I know I have to eat any suggestions on some good small meals?
Happy New Year to everyone. Hope you had a great one! (Comment this)
Cherie (Comment this)
Wow Tony - my body never adjusted to the metformin. Because of the wonderful trots, as some have called them, the most I would take is 500.
Gail - I think either is a good way to slowly work up to big brother 10.
Welcome James & Lizzy - bummer on insurance not covering, amazing how each state is so different.
Danielle - I did give in and have a few last night. Nibbled too. My morning reading was 117... Was it the alcohol or is this finally effecting my morning numbers?
Happy New Year everyone. (Comment this)
stu in NJ (Comment this)
Lynn, My Body may not of adjusted to it either on 2nd thought. The problem is bad now but in hindsight it goes and comes all the time. Might not be the Byetta after all. (Comment this)
The more I read this blog''s messages, the more I am amazed at how individually we all respond to our diabetes, our medications, and our blood sugars.
Happy New Year (I forgot to say that earlier). (Comment this)
Now my doctor gave me a kit to find out about Byetta, because he knows I research meds due to my allergies. It sounds as if I could tolerate it well, but not if it makes me even more constipated than I am, I might simply never have a bowel movement. What are the general thoughts on that? Thanks, Elsa (Comment this)
Thanks
Ben (Comment this)
I appreciate reading your comments and experiences. Knowing that someone is going through the same thing you are does help!!
(Comment this)
To Deborah Beckerman- Good luck on whichever path you choose. However, please make sure you talk to your doctor before stopping or starting any meds. Some Meds should not be stopped suddenly.If you missed it, scroll back and read Betty''s comment to Tony DePalma. To Elsa- I think many of us experience constipation induced by Byetta and other meds such as Lipitor. If your stool is very hard ask your Doctor about a stool softner. Good luck. To Ben- Welcome to our group. Good luck and be patient. Byetta works!
One Day At A Time. (Comment this)
(2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so:
(Comment this)reputation. Guess that''s what I need. This is so frustrating to me. I think I''m depressed. Sharon in NJ (Comment this)
Five weeks ago I went up to 10 mcg and met this mean Big Brother Gilly that Danielle talks about! I haven''t been vomiting but definitely know about the nausea. In addition I have about 3 hours after each shot that I don''t feel very good--dizzy, tired, and general malaise. I am able to function but not too friendly. My sugars are lower than I can remember in that period but not in hypoglycemic range. Thankfully, this feeling passes and I have many really good hours each day. I continue to have good appetite suppression all day and unbelievable will-power. I have never been able to say No to food that looks good and attribute the ability to do so now completely to the Byetta. I had written before about the problems I had with the last 10 mcg pen and no help from Byetta help line. It was frustrating--I ended up using insulin syringes to draw out and inject the Byetta. My new pen works great. The action is smooth and delivers without fail. Sure good to get back to those little needles.
The main conclusion I have come to is that, in spite of the side effects and frustrations with my pen, this is indeed a wonderful drug!! I suspect my initial 15 pound weight loss had a lot to do with stopping the Actos. I didn''t want to discontinue the Actos because that was the drug that initially brought my A1c under 7.0 but my Nurse Practioner was pretty nervous about prescribing the Byetta anyhow (I''m still her only patient on this wonderful drug) and wanted to go by the books. This last month, I have continued to lose 1-2 pounds each week but have been on my diabetic diet pretty strictly and walking 30-60 minutes every day aerobically and trying for at least 10,000 steps each day on my pedometer.
My second conclusion is that Byetta will help us achieve our goals of good diabetic control with diet and exercise being as important as ever. It definitely has direct effects on blood sugars also and this has helped me a lot. My AM sugars are finally under 120, post prandials low, and seldom a random sugar over 160. I find I still eat my biggest meal of the day when I don''t take the shot and eat the food I like best then. I''m even eager to see what my next A1c will be.
My third conclusion is that I couldn''t have survived the change to the 10 mcg dose without the postings to this blog. There is nothing in the Byetta literature and medical literature to prepare people for how awful Lizzy can make a person feel. You have all given me the feeling that I''m not alone and that there is hope for a better life if I just stick it out. I''m sitting here 2 hours post injection feeling only a little sick and ready to enjoy this new Byetta year. Thanks again to all of you!! (Comment this)
After spending hours and hours reading all your posts about Byetta, I have decided to take the ride and try it in hopes I can tame this "betes" beast into submission.
Tomorrow I will call my doctor. She had suggested it months ago, but the thought of injecting myself made me run for the hills. You all are so brave and give me hope. Presently, I take Metformin and have added Amaryl. The Metformin is an unpredictable drug, sometimes gving me
terrible diarrhea(gotten caught in public a few times-horrible). At one point I tried to eliminate the Metformin and then watched my sugar go up. The Amaryl seems to help and no weight gain with either. I have stayed on a what seems to be a permanent plateau on the weight loss for years inspite of diet and exercise. At age 58 the idea of any weight loss would be wonderful.
So, I will stay in touch and also make you all a part of my day as I read and keep track of this group experience.
Thanks for all your help!
Happy and Healthy New Year 2006
Kim in dear ole Dixie (Comment this)
Thanks to everyone about the travel pack, I called the byetta 800 number and was able to order one but they said they have had a great demand so it might take a while to get one. I am gonna get a Darth Vader lunch box to pack it up in hehehe. :)
New Years Eve was miserable for me. I ate dinner as normal took the Byetta beforehand just as usual. A while later (about 2 and half hours) went to a party and ate a few things, and I was so sick. Once I was full I shouldn''t have eaten anything else. I can''t drink alcohol because it also makes me ill but I felt sicker that night than any other and felt hung over and didn''t have anything to drink at all. I have noticed halfway through a meal now I *must* stop eating or I am sorry later. Not a bad side effect, but that''s what is helping overcome the nausea for me.
Well hope everyone has a great year with the gilly! I was sad to watch the Rose Parade in the rain. That was kind of depressing. I can only imagine it was worse to actually be there. (Comment this)
Since everyone agrees that Byetta can induce additional constipation, I believe I will not try it. Too bad, because it sounds superb, specially for someone as obese as I am (215 pounds, 5''5"). My endo allows me choices on meds, because he knows that I do not make them lightly.... For example, I turned out to be allergic to Lipitor and other cholesterol lowering meds and to fluid pills!...
Thanks for the help. (Comment this)
Stick with it cause like for most of us it will get better.
I did start out 30 days on the 5mcg and have been on 10mcg for 3 months now all except for 2 days when I dropped back to 5.
Best of luck, and remember your Dr is a phone call away ~ they may want to increase your metformin back to what it was pre byetta. (Comment this)
I take most of my lizard spit in the arm. It works just as good for me in my arm as it does my stomach. It may not be the same for you though. I say give it a try & see.
(Comment this)
I am sad to see you let Byetta go bye. I too was very obese and I now feel so much better. I think you could lose the weight rather quickly and that could really make a difference. If you were just stopped up to much then you could drop it. I know I often go without a bowel movement for three days. Well, you know your body the best and so do what you feel is right for you. I know you feel torn. John Dodson (Comment this)
We spent two weeks in Hawaii during Christmas, and I''m pleased to report that I''m down ten pounds since starting, even though we pretty much ate our way through the vacation. I think that having to eat regular meals due to the spit helped.
I think this is a wonder drug, and I sure am thankful for this blog! (Comment this)
Just wondering with all the talk back and forth about taking oral meds quite a ways ahead of the Byetta if you are doing that? Perhaps you should play a little bit with taking it closer to the time that you are going to eat or at the very least some small snack with it. This would give it something in there to settle it but not so much that it interferes with the Byetta shot.
Also wondering if the diarrhea might be moving the orals through your system faster so perhaps you are not absorbing all that you need to. Possibly the reason for higher numbers right now? Maybe if you can settle the diarrhea down the numbers might settle a little also.
Anyway just a thought since at least for me I know the Metformin without food can definately give you the gallops.... (Comment this)
Was just reading old posts and it seems common that the numbers take time to come down. I am not real worried about it. Plus I understand the Actos takes time to leave the system. I am traveling offshore tomorrow for 4 weeks and have tons of energy low appetite and ready to hit the gym every night. I rarely feel tired and after 4-5 hours sleep (if I can get to sleep) wake up raring to go. My Doctor is out of Country for another 10-12 days but I am going to call her Nurse and see if they think I should take a little Lantus So I can get numbers down. They are not drastic 177 in the Morning and around 220 are high, as they have gotten. But I was much lower before starting the spit. The Amyral always brought me down significantly. But it seems like it does not work so what you are saying may in fact be true. I love the Blogsphere, medicine, Baseball, Politics people sharing experience strength and hope. Nothing can get in the way of Hope nothing! God Bless and Thanks again! (Comment this)
Not to pick a fight. However sometimes Doctors need to be told what we want. Our System of Health Care borders on Socialism and we are like Cattle going through their respective offices. Today it continues to be worse. (That’s a whole other subject about Capitalism and Atlas Shrugged) The educated patient is the best patient. Doctors (I know not all of them are that way) want to sell drugs the advertisements are all over their office. In 1998 I called my Mom and told her I was taking Lopid. My Mom did research she told me it was bad had bad side effects control things with your diet. I went home and threw away my Diabetes drugs, Cholesterol medicine and began a Low Carb Regime and started running Marathons, Triathlons etc. I went back to my Endo and my A1C was 6.1 my triglecyrides dropped from 1156 to 38. I then informed him I took no medicine for 3 months. He was shocked. My point is we can do a lot without just swallowing a pill. Many people (Foxnews had a special on it last night) live long lives well into their 80''s and 90''s taking control of things and not swallowing everything a Doctor suggests. Today the drug companies really push their products. I am 51 years old been diabetic 16 years and have never needed a drug for sex. Never! But they give them to 19 year olds. So taking verbatim what a Doctor says is not advisable. At 49 years old was in the Hospital for the very first time. Had Pancreatitis, Gallbladder removed, developed 2 cysts in stomach and could not keep food down and stayed there 66 days until finally I was sent to someone who knew the problem and fixed it. Before that everyone guessed and guessed but came up with nothing. Point is Doctors do not know everything they really do not. So a patients experience and knowledge is important. For heavens Sake my Endo today changes her mind on my Meds 3 times in one appointment. It is trail and error and they need feedback.
The Internet is a blessing and how the media has changed, the way information flows is fantastic today. This Blog is great you learn quite a bit. We can no more depend solely on a Doctor then we could take for Gospel what Cronkite was telling us all those years. We are better educated today and we need to question these medical folks. I know most of them are doing great work but the real work is what we do to live. Please do not misunderstand I do respect there knowledge and ask a lot of questions. The Great Ronald Regan would call it “trust but verify”
I happen to be a Chef onboard a vessel with 160 people on it. I know we have a good 10% type 2''s onboard. It is alarming how many people do not take the time to educate themselves and learn about this disease. They swallow pills and want to eat all kinds of sugar free foods, which still escalate bs. What is more alarming is we have the American Diabetic Association still telling us High Carb diets are okay. When study after study (most recently Duke) has proved it not to be the case. These diets killed my Dad 25 years ago.. I have a 9 and 3 year old and want to be around when they graduate college and have their own families.
Let’s all hope Byetta is what we have been waiting for and that is succeeds for the masses and us. Capitalism will treat it well as the free market and smart public will embrace it with all we have.
On another Note I see you’re a Mets fan. Been a Yankee fan since 1962. 1969 was brutual!
Godspeed. (Comment this)
I am a Type 2 with good basal insulin production but little or no phase 2 insulin response to food (without Byetta). I take metaformin (1000 mg). I have been on Byetta for 4 months.
I am using 5 mcg of Byetta now. I was up to 10, but I had too many incapacitating chills and nausea episodes. I tinkered quite a bit with the timing of my shots and here is my strategy. If I have a bg reading of 80 or lower before my shot time - I either skip my shot or eat about 6-9 grams of carbs right with the shot - otherwise I will go too low. If I have a high reading (150+) at one hour after eating lunch or dinner - I give myself a shot even if I had one shot before the meal. I am aware of my blood sugar rising fast (I call it feeling ''carbed over'') - otherwise I test at 2 hours. So far - so good with my Byetta strategy. I have reduced both highs and lows to my tolerance level. I am using Byetta kinda like fast acting insulin, but no more than 15 mcg per day. I stick to a very low carb diet - never more than 30 grams of low glycemic carbs per meal and much less if the carbs are high glycemic. I find that the interaction of food, my metabolism, and Byetta is too complex to use the one shot before breakfast and one shot before dinner formula. My last A1c was 5.5 and I have lost 44 lbs so far (199 to 155). My endo has been supportive so far with my tinkering - although she thinks I am aiming for more control than I need.
Thigh and arm injections reduce side effects for me. (Comment this)
QUESTION FOR ALL YOU SWEETIES:
I''m considering getting one of those diabetes ID bracelets (Thanks to my wonderful Byetta, I get hypo fairly regularly at the gym where I don''t have my purse right by me with its info).
I''m curious about people''s decisions - do YOU wear diabetic ID? Why or why not?
BTW, I do bring apple juice with me to the gym and sip to avoid hypos; morning just after I eat & 1.5 hours after my Byetta is the best time for me to exercise, but it also guarantees a 70-80 reading.
Thanks for all answers!
Barbara J the curious (Comment this)
I was wondering if there was ever a need to UP the Byetta Dosage to over 10 2x a day?
It seems we are all different and that some may need more than others?
I still don''t have a new home comp sense my old hard drive totally died Ihave not been able to read the Blog in 10 days I missed the support.
Also I treated myself to a new digital scale as a reward for losing weight on the Byetta my old scale was at least 10 years old.
A word of caution I gain 9 pounds from the old scale to the new one I was very disapointed but I weighted this morning and had lost 2 more pounds on the new scale this week.
Angela in Iowa (Comment this)
I am using GNC''s Mega Whey Protein shake (both Chocolate and Vanilla at different times) in plain cold water mixed with a mixer and 5 - 8 packs of Splenda. Also, if I''m on the go, I use ABB Extreme RTD 50 Monster Shake canned drink at lunch and/or dinner.
However, these high-protein drinks may not be the anti-nausea solution you''re looking for. By all means try them, but I typically don''t experience nausea anymore regardless of the foods I eat (amount matters more). I started the high-protein drinks for breakfast due to the lack of low-carb HEALTHY alternatives to breakfast (bacon and sausage are so BAD).
Additionally, I consume them to retain and/or build lean muscle mass to control my Type 2 Insulin-dependent diabetes. Feel free to give them a try, but don''t buy more than 1 or 2 to start with. (Comment this)
Cherri, are you injecting below the belly button? Its a lot less tender there and does''nt bruise as much.
Sharon my garden state pal, You still sound down. I wish I had magic words to help and cheer you up. Keep posting and talking to us sometimes just venting can help depression. I forgot if you said You taking something for it?
Lorraine my other garden state pal, CHILLI AND BEANS wow!!! You and your stomach just became my heros!! lol I don''nt think I will EVER give Bully Gilly another bean as long as I live. I started getting pain just reading about what you ate, Glad Gilly lets someone have that good food. lol
To may gilly pals who are having problems in the bathroom. I take laxative every night since starting on gilly boys in Sept. No problems at all.
Cowgirl, my old gilly friend it was great to see you post again I missed your comments. Welcome back.
Barbara, I wear a ID necklace under my tops. That way Medical people can find it if need be but the rest of the world does not see it. I am alergic to nuts and diabetic so I have both listed and personal info on back which also is way its under and not over top. Hope I caught up with most if not I will. Happy New Year everyone and again A BIG GILLY WELCOME TO ALL OUR NEW GILLY FRIENDS!!! Danielle NJ (Comment this)
(Comment this)
Now a bit of an update on my use, I was on the 5 pen for 3 weeks, my BS was not good but it was consistant, I had no nausea, but had the belches real bad. I made the jump to the 10 pen about 4 days ago. What a difference, my BS are real good for me, no nausea and just a bit of belching. I''m happy with that. Oh, and I''ve even lost a few pounds.
Sandy (Comment this)
My initial 5 pen has been out of the refrigerator since 12/22. Talked to the Byetta hot line and they said " the pen would be usuable as long as the doctor had it under refrigeration when he gave it to me. Called the endo and they swore they kept pens under refrigeration. So by the looks of it I will begin romancing Gilly tomorrow morning. Wish me luck........ (Comment this)