Diabetes.Blog.com

1 - It looks like I am the first on this site, so I'll start with my 2 cents. I am dearly hoping that Byetta will be a factor in lowering my triglycerides, as others have reported, because as of November I stopped taking Vytorin. The reason was the serious constipation I was suffering and I was desperate to eliminate anything that contributed to it. Two months later I am not only over the constipation but all the muscle and joint pain I experienced, and attributed to age and arthritis, is gone. I feel like a new person, can walk without pain, and the Byetta has brought about 16-pound weight loss as well. If my triglyceride levels are lower because of the Byetta too, hooray for the Gilly!

Anita in Florida (Comment this)

2 - Triglycerides and Caffeine

I also have high (very high) triglycerides, to be honest I was told over 500. My cholesterol is good though and the doc prescribed Omacor (fish oil) to lower the triglycerides. My question is, does anyone know if caffeine effects triglycerides levels. I don't drink much coffee 0-2 cups per day BUT I do drink ALOT (2-3 quarts) of fresh brewed unsweetened caffeinated iced tea all day long.

Anita, congrats on your weight loss and feeling better! Lets hope Byetta is also working on our Tri levels as good as it is our blood sugar levels!! (Comment this)

3 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend a few minutes at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes. (2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself (you'll find links on the right side near the top of this page), we'd encourage you to please do so. Many thanks, from Bill and Steph Quick

 

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4 - cholesterol and coffee:
I am quoting a piece from the People's pharmacy:
Copyright 2006 The Buffalo News
Buffalo News (New York)

January 31, 2006 Tuesday
FINAL EDITION

SECTION: LIFESTYLES; The People's Pharmacy; Pg. C3

LENGTH: 777 words

HEADLINE: Does decaf boost cholesterol?

BYLINE: By Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon

BODY:


Q: I drank decaf coffee for 25 years. About 15 years ago, my cholesterol started going up. I've done everything my doctor suggested, including diet, exercise, Mevacor, Zocor, Lipitor and red yeast rice. Some numbers went down, but my triglycerides stayed up.

My son and daughter-in-law asked me to try regular coffee because a chemist friend told them that decaffeinated coffee raises cholesterol. I was going to have my numbers checked in a few weeks, so I switched to regular coffee for three weeks.

Both my doctor and I were delighted with the lab results. My triglycerides dropped from 198 to 78! All my other numbers improved, too. I don't drink a lot of coffee, but I'll stick with regular until my next test.

A: Many studies have tried to determine if coffee consumption has an effect on cholesterol. Unfortunately, the results are inconsistent. Most of the research found that filtered coffee, whether caffeinated or decaf, did not have much effect on cholesterol or triglycerides. Boiled or percolated coffee, however, does appear to raise cholesterol levels (American Journal of Epidemiology, Feb. 15, 2001). So does French press coffee.

One study showed that bad LDL cholesterol levels rose when the subjects switched to decaf (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, September 1991). This supports your experience, although most of the other research suggests there's little difference.
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5 - Hello Everyone,
Would someone please help me understand what "Net Carbs" are? And should I take at face value the Total Carb. line on most food packaging?

Thanks (Comment this)

6 - Rich from Chicago:
See Net Carbs at the Diabetes Monitor.

Hope this helps! (Comment this)

7 - Thanks Dr. Bill....the information was somewhat complicated, but I think I got the main message!! (Comment this)

8 - Dr. Bill....or anyone else,
What is meant by "Protected Carbs"? I don't see a reference to it in the "Net Carbs" article. (Comment this)

9 - RICH:

"Unprotected" carbs meand they are "protected" from digestion in the small intestine. They can be a form of undigestable dietary fiber.

If the label says 12 carbs and 7 are protected.. or fiber, then there would only be 5 digestable carbs...that actually count.

I am hoping that this is acurate..it is how I understand it to be.

 (Comment this)

10 - Thanks Shari.....that was exactly what I was looking for! (Comment this)

11 - Rich,

I meant to say that "Unprotected "carbs are the digestable ones and "protected" carbs are the ones that don't get digested. Anyway, you get the idea,I guess, in spite of my explanation. (Comment this)

12 - SHERRY
I am also unable to tolerate pharmaceutical statins. My cardiologist recommended Red Yeast Rice which I have used for four years so far. When I started on it my chol. was over 200. My latest reading was 112. And my readings were down to 150 in the first two months. There are products that include this but I take the non-mixture. It does not appear to interact with anything else I am taking, pharmaceutical or not. My undersanding is that it is a natural statin. Works for me!
Leah (Comment this)

13 - LEAH;
please tell us more about the red yeast rice. Do we now have to go to meals and nutrition? (Comment this)

14 - ANITA IN FLORIDA --ZETIA
I've been on zetia for a couple of years now with excellent results. I was on lipitor before that and continue on it also -- these two medications approach cholesterol from two different directions. I just started on byetta this week, but I did check and there is no contraindication to zetia and byetta.

Good luck. (Comment this)

15 - SHARI AND SHERRY
I don't think we have to go to meals because Red Yeast Rice is a supplement. I take two caps in the AM and two PM before meals and along with all my other meds and supplements. The brand name is Cholestene and can be purchased at many drugstores. Or you can research it at www.hpfonline.com or call toll free at 1-888-506-3267.(Got this off the bottle.) They will send you information about the studies etc. And I know that Dr. Bill warns us about strange soncoctions and so forth but this does not seem to me to fall into that category because I know so many people who are taking it with similar successful results. In fact, my primary doctor, who was dubious at first, told me after my great results that I had made a believer out of him and said he had other patients to whom he would recommend it. I am doing my best to offer credible information to assist you in getting further info so you can make your own informed choice. Finally, I am more careful than the average bear because there is so much out there that is just not useful. I seldom endorse a health product just because someone or some dr. says it is useful. I want to KNOW!! So, for what it's worth to you, look it up and see how you feel about it. If you have further questions, i am happy to try to answer. I feel also that it may be a valuable addition to what Byetta gives us. Works for me!
Leah
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16 - One of the things I meant to say more clearly above was that I didn't think we needed to go to meals because the supplement was cholesterol-specific. maybe I was wrong but sometimes it's a murky decision when attempting to figure out where to put some of the topic material.
Leah (Comment this)

17 - Shari......
Is there some way that the average consumer can calculate "protected" carbs? I ask this because the Dreamfields Pasta box says it on the box. I have never seen this on a product label before. I took a box of Prince pasta and tried to make the same comparison, but couldn't. All I know, like everyone who reads this blog, that "regular" pasta drives my BG up, up and away versus Dreamfield's which does not. I'm trying to understand what's so different with Dreamfields, mainly because I would like to translate it into other food selections. (Comment this)

18 - RICH;

i believe the big difference between Dreamfield's and regular pasta is a complex patented process. They are wrking on doing whatever it is they do to rice and potatoes..I assume they are referring to dehydrated potatoes. If you check their website you might get a better explanation, but ,of course they don't tell you how they do it.

Generally speaking in most products you simply subtract the listing for fiber from the total number of carbs. Then you will have a figure that gives you the net
carbs that are the only ones you need to count. Some do that for you and list them. Dreamfields evidentally cannot be calculated the same way because of their secret process that protects some of the total numbers of carbs they list, a different way. They list the net carbs but theirs no way for us to know how it was figured.That's as close as I can come to understanding it.
They are just not going to reveal how they do it..but aren't we GLAD they do it.!!
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19 - RHONDA:
Thanks for your comment. Feeling good is highly underrated by doctors, I think. I'm now down 21 pounds. Unfortunately, the Byetta has not seemed to produce the same level of loss. My blood work last week showed my cholesterol and LDL levels up again. My doctor has started me on Zetia and I'm to start red yeast rice in another week. Leah, it was good to hear of your success on the RYR -- I hope it works as well for me. I go back for more blood tests the end of April.

I'm also back to the 5 mcg of Byetta since I was having miserable side effects with the 10 that were still with me after 2 months. The next 2 months are a test for the lower dosage, too.

Anita in Florida (Comment this)

20 -

Shari....
Thank you for the response. You answered my question. I sure wish Dreamfields showed us the calculation because THAT is where my confusion was.....I couldn't come up the the 5 digestable figure they stated on their package! But....I'm not complaining....I LOVE IT. And despite the cost which is about 3 times more than regular pasta, it is worth every cent. Can't wait for the rice!!!

[NOTE: This discussion is off-topic, and should have been posted elsewhere. I will let it stay, but in the future, if you want to discuss further, post a brief comment here to tell folks that the followup will be at the meals/nutrition/eating forum. Thanks!Bill the diabetes doc.]

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21 - DITTO RICH;

Just think about the potato possibilities too! (Comment this)

22 - RICH;

Whoever sees the rice or potatoes first should post it in big letters over at the "Meals and Nutrition" island.
If you have anything to add to our cyber buffet come on over to the "jokes and Other Humor" island..Any good pasta recipes? Put them at "Recipe Swap."

See you there sometime.. (Comment this)

23 - Advertisement

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24 - === off-topic comment ===
I recently received (and agree with) the following comment from a long-time reader:

It would have been so very helpful if we could have our diabetic history and current meds automated under our names each time so we could review quickly what medication each person is on, when they were diagnosed and what type Diabetes they have, when they started Byetta, etc., and eliminate the constant repetition of asking and answering. I understand from you that this is not possible in an automated way, so perhaps the blog contributors could be encouraged to voluntarily type under their comment each time as briefly as possible to assist us in responding in a more efficient manner? Thank you so much. (Comment this)

25 - does anyone taking vytorin think it raises their blood sugar, i find my morning blood sugar is 30 to 40 points higher than without it, my doctor poo poo it away but i still feel i am right (Comment this)

26 - HAS ANYONE TRIED THE DIABETIC PACKS I SEE ADVERTISED ON THE INTERNET TO LOWER BG LEVELS? THE TESTIMONIALS SAY IT LOWERS GLUCOSE LEVELS, I AM A LITTLE AFRAID TO ORDER THEM FOR FEAR THEY WILL MAKE MY SUGAR LEVELS WORSE. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO START INSULIN BUT THE GLUCOVANCE I AM TAKING IS NOT WORKING AS WELL AS IT USED TO AND I AM HEADED TO THE LANTUS I FEAR (Comment this)

27 - FRAN:
You might want to read about some of the ways that gillyspitkins have addressed the higher morning numbers. You may find that you need to try some of them to take care of your dawn effect. It just may not be the vytorin at all. Click on search at the right margin and put in "dawn effect." There should many good ideas that are worth experimenting with. (Comment this)

28 - Well, I just came here to ask a question, and there's Fran already asking it. :)

My endo started me on Vytorin last week. The last couple days, I've had unusually high fbg readings. They're always high, I'm the Dawn Effect Queen, but now they're higher than usual despite all my tricks. I know the new Lizard pen is working, because last night I had a low (caught it at 60).

I don't find any information online about Vytorin having any effect on bg levels. Anyone dealt with this? (Comment this)

29 - BETH IN AZ Re:Vytorin:
Hello Beth, I do not have an answer for you but I did type Vytorin in the BLOG SEARCH and I did see there has been a lot of discussion about it in many different forums and even one I glanced at referred to a higher than normal fbg so you may want to take a peek there if you haven't already. (Comment this)

30 - beth, i too am a dawn effect queen, it was ok until i started using vytorin, i had no idea what was going on or the dawn effect syndrome until all the high morning readings with no changes in my diet. i tried to think what had changed and i remembered the vytorin so i did a test and stopped the vytorin for days at a time, always my reading in the morning were lower by 30 to 50 points, but as i said my doctor poo pooed it. but i am curious, what are your tricks, i have tried eating a protein like cheese at bedtime, a cracjer, wine, dark chocolate, even getting up very early and taking a pill, i am not on insulin yet, but i guess it is just a matter of time.
any advice would be helpful....frani (Comment this)

31 - Fran, I do all those things. I also have moved my second dose of metformin to bedtime. And there are certain foods, like fruit, that I don't eat for dinner or later. I'm going to get some nuts tomorrow, and see if eating some at bedtime will help.

I'm seeing about 30 points on the fbg that I think is attributable to the Vytorin. I'm going to give it the rest of the month, but if it doesn't have a huge effect on my LDL, I'm not going to keep taking it. (Comment this)

32 - How do you raise your good cholesterol. Thanks trish (Comment this)

33 - BETH, THANKS FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION, I HAVE TRIED TAKING A PILL BEFORE BETIME AND SOMETIMES IT IS WORSE, I REALLY DO THINK IT IS THE VYTORIN, I STOPPED TAKING IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND MY MORNING SUGAR WAS REALLY GETTING BETTER BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE DOCTOR SHE SAID MY CHOESTEROL WAS HIGHER THAN LAST TIME. I THINK I AM GOING TO ASK FOR THE ZOCOR I USED TO TAKE BUT THE DOCTOR DOES NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN MY THEROY, THAT IS WHY I GOT ON THIS BLOG, WELL, AT LEAST SOMEONE ELSE SEES THE DIFFERENCE IN MORNING SUGAR WITH VYTORIN I AM NOT LYING TO MYSELF. THANKS AGAIN I WILL KEEP MY EYE ON IT AND GET BACK TO YOU IF I FIND OUT ANY MORE (Comment this)

34 - Trish, I have no idea. There are lists of food that are good for your HDL levels -- olive oil, and fish, and nuts and stuff like that. Animal fats like beef and cream and milk are bad for you. I stick pretty much to a low-fat diabetic diet, and my HDL is good, and my triglycerides are actually low. I think what's more important is the ratio of HDL to LDL cholesterol. (Comment this)

35 - In case anyone's reading here, I thought I'd come back and report that my body seems to have gotten used to the Vytorin, and that as long as I exercise sufficiently during the day, my fbg is staying at an acceptable level. Not good, but acceptable. (Comment this)

36 - My endo told me that exercise was one of the best ways to correct my good and bad (HDL and LDL) cholesterol levels. My endo also told me that when my BG levels came down my triglycerides would probably also follow suit. (Comment this)

37 - Wanting to share some good news ~~ my triglycerides have come down from over 550 to 320 in only 4 months!! My Dr had prescribed Omacor but instead I started adding about 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon a day in my coffee. There are also cinnamon caplets that you can purchase but since I like the taste of cinnamon I just use McCormicks ground with a packet of sweetner in my coffee and WOW I'm amazed at the results!! I will continue and hopefully the number will come down to normal!! (Comment this)

38 - Beth in AZ; T2 since 6/99; byetta 10, metformin 1000 x2; amaryl 2mg, Hi Beth:
My endo swears that statins, even the newer ones, should not cause any bs issue. Tomorrow the cardiologist is going to force me on a statin. I'm having so many bs issues that I dread making things worse. Regular docs can be difficult to work with. (Comment this)

39 - fran, I have seen the same effects of vytorin and higher blood sugar. I'm in the process of discussions with my doctor. (Comment this)

40 - Lipitor:
Anyone want to comment on side effects of Lipitor? I am bravely trying. Heard of memory and cognitive disfunction, muscle problems that can be permanent, and the requirement of constant liver monitoring. My liver functions are off now -- can't wait to see what happens I won't tolerate higher bs, though.
Looking forward to hearing from my Byetta friends. (Comment this)

41 - I would advise anyone who takes Omacor to carefully research the most common side effecr not the least, the most common, which are elevated LDL, heart attack, angina, wheezing depression joint pain, etc, this drug is not a s benign as it appears (Comment this)

42 - Rich from Chicago, Illinois, From a layperson, new Type II Diabetic: Net carbs are those that impact glucose numbers. That is Total carbs less fiber carbs. Fiber is not digested and therefore has no glycemic impact. (Comment this)

43 - I am looking for the information on Cholestine . Can you help me. I was given this web site for it but I can't seem to get to it. (Comment this)

44 - I had high cholesterol levels. Before I go further let me tell you that I live in India. I have been on Storvas 20 mg for the last five years. My LDL is below normal however even my HDL has gone down below normal. The only big problem that I have is triglycerides. I am taking another tablet from the family of feno fibrides? family. This has helped bring down my triglycerides marginally. The triglycerides never come down to normal. I walk about 3-4 miles everyday. Okay now I come to the question: I am insulin dependant as I have diabetes- so can I take Byetta if I am taking all these medicines? (Comment this)

45 - Danish Khan, hello
i have taken cholesterol meds and insulin for many years, along with blood pressure meds,anti-depressives, and stomach acid reducers. i have been on the byetta 4 weeks. i still take the insulin, but less of it.
talk to your doctor...there shouldn't be any reason not to put you on byetta. good luck! (Comment this)

46 - is there anyone else here who has really bad reactions to all statins, and can't even use red yeast rice? i've started on welchol, now. (Comment this)

47 - Anita Barrett,
Hi this is Ellen Felber. I am trying to find anyone who has had a rise in their triglcerides since being on 5 units of byetta.
My tris are over 10000 since starting byetta in August.
Do you have or know of anyone else who has had this problem? (Comment this)

48 - Ellen,
hi. did you really mean ten thousand, or one thousand? mine have been as high as 2800. i got mine down with fish oil capsules and garlic pills on alternating days. unfortunately, after a few months i smelled like a fine seafood dish!
what were your numbers like before byetta? i would have the test redone. something seems odd. (Comment this)

49 - Danish Khan, Bayetta with insulin dependnet diabetes question. Type 1 diebetes or insulin dependent diabetes occurs when the islet cells do not produce insulin, and can't produce insulin. In Type 2 diabetes they can produce insulin but there are signaling problemes (Two slightly different sinaling pathways GLP-1 and sulfonylurea receptors) and bodily resistance to the insulin produced. Bayetta workes on the beta cells and produces insulin. If you are trueley Type 1 diabetes you do not produce insilin at all. These drugs help a functioning pancreas to produce insulin.

In some Type 1 cases the beta cells are killed as the result of an autoimmune destruction of the b-cells of the pancreas. In real Type 1 diabetes fixing the signaling problem GLP-1 by Beyetta or stimulating the sulfonylureas receptors by repaglinide can't make a dead beta cell work.

You should look at an insulin pump and read about the inhaled insulin. Insulin dependent means you must suplement insulin. Sorry Bayetta, Prandin, or Januvia type drugs will not hep you.





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50 - Everyone: Can any further responses to Danish Khan please be posted at Odds'n'Ends, as they are off-topic here?

Thanks! (Comment this)