I started Byetta about two weeks ago... and after a week had lost 4 pounds. Then I went on vacation and, just back, see I have gained 2 pounds back! I knew I was eating more while travelling... so am not too surprised... but it prompts me to ask you: what sort of dieting have you been doing since you started Byetta? Clearly it isn't just the drug that makes you lose weight (more like the lowered appetite combined with dieting)... I would be thrilled to lose 30 pounds on this drug over the next few months and if you have any advice on how to maximize that aspect of Byetta, do tell.

Hi Mindi..I just found this blog and think it is great. I started byetta 6 months ago and have the same results as most all..including you. What I found in my 3rd month, being a compulsive overeater, that my stomach could handle small high calorie snacks. I too gained 3 lbs the 3rd month. My doctor was not please nor I. I am now back on the 1500 call and maximum 1800 cal diet on "off" days. And weight loss is rapidly resuming. It is easy for some of us to forget the high calorie thing. My diet is high in protein and fiber, moderate in carbs. It is becoming a joy to eat a small piece of fruit (my diabetes wouldn't let me have that before byetta) I'm very reactive to the high glycemic index. But the fruit is so much better for me than pastry, a no no anyway. My recent labs and weight showed 35 lbs down now and my glucophage was just cut in half and the doctor says once my weight is under 200 my body will probably have enough insulin for it's size. There's hope for sure! I've been obese all my life so this is exciting and hopeful. Hope this helps someone else like me..too. :)

This is my second day. I feel terrible. Last night I kept vomiting. Today I am sick stomach. I know that the outcome will be good, but it seems like it is a difficult way to get there. My last A1C was 5.5 I thouhgt that was good. I am wondering if my ddiabetes type 2 is all that bad. I go to the doctor today so of course I will ask. The thing that sounds great about byetta is the weight lost. I can see the lost of weight especially if you are vomiting all the time.

DAVID HAVE BEEN ON BYETTA 3 WEEKSNOW ...SO FAR ALL MT POST PRADIAL NUBERS ARE VERY GOOD 112 130 BUT MY AM IS STILL 140 TO 150 I THOUGHT YOU HAD MENTIONED YOU ALSO HAVE THE 'DAWN EFFECT' AND THE BYETTA HELPED BRING THAT # DOWN...EVEN BEFORE BYETTA I TRIED SWITCHING THE TIME I TOOK MY METAFORMIN OR EATING A LIGHT PROTIEN BEFOR BED BUT IT'S ALWAYS BEN 130 TO 150 AT 5;30AM ANY IDEASTRUDY DAVID'S RESPONSE: My experience, Trudy, is that my fasting numbers are more a reflection of my numbers the night before, and as Byetta has brought down my numbers in general, my fasting numbers are also much better.

Hi, I started the 5 pen last month, had no side effects and lost 5 pounds. I still take 750mg of metformin and 10mg of gluburide daily). My bg readings were still elevated so my doctor put me on the 10 pen last week. I have been nauseated almost constantly, feel totally exhausted and have had a severe headache. My bg readings are better and I am not hungry. I do find it difficult to function, however. I slept the entire day today. I have asked my doctor for an anti-nausea medication and he says it is most likely a side effect that will go away. I want to stay on Byetta because for the first time in a long, long time, I feel encouraged! Please comment on how long I can expect this horrible side effects to last. Thanks--this website has been very helpful. David's Response: The side effects of Byetta almost always diminish soon, Beth. Please read "Controlling Nausea on Byetta" at http://blogs.healthcentral.com/diabetes/david-mendosa/controlling-nausea-on-byetta-2006-08-08/print

I currently take metformin but am alergic to sulfonylurea drugs. My blood sugars are still rising and so I expect my A1C will be up from the last reading of 7.4, the Doctor says he will put me on Byetta when I go in later this month if my A1C is still 7.4. I have read your articles and understand now how Byetta works on the blood suger levels, but I still do not have a clear picture of what Byetta is doing to cause some people to loose weight. Can you explain a little bit about this aspect of Byetta. Does it suppress the appetite or does your body's metabolism kick up a little bit or is it something else? David's Response: Yes, Cindy, Byetta suppresses your appetite. That makes it much easier to eat less. You will lose weight on Byetta, if you eat less. But not everyone loses weight. That's because Byetta doesn't make you eat less. You can still eat a lot, although that is what causes the nausea that many people have on Byetta. But if you pay attention to your hunger signals, you will lose weight.

Hi David, I am on my fourth week of Byetta 5 mg. Except for intial fatigue, I have been free of most side effects until this weekend when I broke out in itchy welts at my injection site. I changed sites and applied aloe vera to the welts, which are becoming much less red and irritating. Have you heard of this reaction before? By the way, thank you for your research and articles. They have been a tremendous resource for me. -Kathi David's Response: I think that there are a couple of other comments on some of my blog entries about itchy welts at the Byetta injection site, Kathi. I know that it does happen to some people. Please call the Byetta customer service line at 1-800-868-1190 for their professional advice.

Hi, I was pretty excited about the Byetta report on weight loss and supression of appetite. I've been thinking for a while that appetite control is what I need to look at. However, the Byretta website basically says it's only for Type II's who are not on insulin. So I'm thinking there is no way I can get my doctor to prescribe it. Sara

i AM ON THE BYETTA AND HAVE NOT REALLY UNDERSTOOD HOW IT WORKS. I AM FATIGUED BUT DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS CAUSING IT. I TAKE 2000 METFORMIN A DAY (along with other meds). I am having trouble with the "system" plugged. Any suggestions? David's Response: The fatigue could be a result of your eating a lot less because of your reduced appetite on Byetta. I experienced that for a couple of weeks myself. But soon my body adjusted to the new diet, and my energy level is now much greater than ever. This too shall pass.

I've been working hard at redecorating my sons house and a lot of times I forget to eat and take my Byetta. I am on the 10 pen and get sick a lot. Does it hurt to miss a day of medicine?? David's reply: While I don't think that it hurts us much to miss a shot or two of Byetta, that does of course mean that we forego the blood glucose control and satiety that it offers. I have missed a shot once or twice myself. I hate to do that, but I don't think that it's a big deal.

I started byetta 5 pen five months ago. I immediately improved my fasting AM bg and less appetite with no side effects. I was anticipating a big weight loss and was full of hope. My body tissue got softer and five plus pounds dissapeared only to reappear in two weeks. I started to exercise without the amount of pain I used to experience, but the weight stayed on. My doctor increased my dosage to the 10pen after 3 months of stable weight. Now, two months later, my weight is basically unchanged tho I eat less and am more active. I am ready to give up. All my levels are under controll (I also take metformin and glyburide) but my B/P is elevated when I see my doctor tho relatively normal at other times. Does anyone share my experience? David's Response: There is one thing that I can see that you are doing that is fighting against your weight loss, Sheila. One of the drugs that your doctor prescribed, glyburide, is a sulfonylurea. This class of drug causes weight gain. I wonder if you could go back to your doctor an suggest that you increase your level of metformin and drop the glyburide?

I just started Byetta 5mcg on 11/16/06. I've had a few incidents of nausea, but not too bad. I haven't seen alot of change yet in my BG other than it is mostly going down from my before testing to my 2 hour after testing metering. I was just diagnosed in late October. My GP sent me to an endo in mid-Nov. The endo took me off Actoplus Met(15/500), put me on Metformin 1000mg at night, and put me on byetta. I've got a question about byetta injection sites. Is everyone using just the abdominal area, or are you switching, or using just the arms or legs? I've seemed to settle for the back of the upper arms. Seems to be the most comfortable site for me. Thanks, Jeff David's Response: There are several possible sites to inject Byetta, but I started with my stomach and stayed there. That works for me because it is the biggest surface!

I have been using byetta since July. At first I thought it was the worst drug out there for diabetes. The nausea and flu-like symptoms were unbearable. After about the first 3 months the symptoms started to subside. It does wonders for my blood sugar levels to the point where they get dangerously low. Sometimes I am afraid to go to sleep in fear that they will drop too low during the night. For those of you that are experiencing the initial side effects, yes, do hang in there. It does get better after a while.

Oh by the way this brings new meaning to the word togetherness, my husband and I sit down to test together, comparing levels and I now understand his Type I problems far better now that I am Type II. What a way to do it, I wish his levels were far more stable, but we are working on them.

I have been on Byetta for almost 6 months. I have experienced most of the initial complaints. As for nausea, it still happens every now and then, but I'm ok with. All I can say is that the BG #'s are great and just stick with it. I still sometimes get nausea and the welts by the injection site. I've experienced weight loss of about 13 lbs and hoping for 30 more. I don't get hungry, when I eat I share my food and crave healthy food, I find this wierd. Anyone experience this? For those of you just starting, try to eat within 5 - 15 minutes after shot and after eating if nauseated chew on gum. Good luck, for me it's been the best I have felt in a long time. David's reply: Like you, Dora, I have found that I really prefer healthy food a lot more now that I am taking Byetta than before. It's logical too, because I am eating so much less than I was before that I need the food that I eat to be good for me.

Hello, I will be traveling to Brazil next month, and am concerned about keeping the pen cold. The Byetta travel pack says it only keeps it cold about 3 hours. It's a 10-1/2 hour flight to our connection, then 5 hours waiting at the airport and another 2 hours on another plane just to get to our final destination. Destination is 4 hours ahead of where I live, so I am not as concerned about the time difference and timing my lantus shots and other meds ... just keeping the pen cold! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! David's reply: Byetta does offer a free travel kit that you probably will get a coupon for with your first pen, Sherri. However, for your longer trips I would suggest the kind of travel kits that insulin users rely on the most. This is the Frio. See http://www.mendosa.com/carrying_insulin.htm

I went through 4 Byetta 5 pens, no bad side effects, no appetite suppression, no weight loss. My glucose readings are improved. My Alc went from 6.5 to 5.8. I have been on the 10 pen for a couple of weeks--no bad side effects, no appetite suppression, no weight loss. My morning fasting readings went from an average of 102 before Byetta to 96 after Byetta. I do find that if I take metformin at bedtime, my morning fasting level is better.

A couple of my non-Byetta Tools: Calorie King - http://www.calorieking.com/ I purchased the Calorie King software and track all my meals & snacks in it. I find it very valuable. They update their food database often. Frio Wallet - http://www.coolerconcept.com/ I use this when I am traveling to keep my Byetta Cool. Traveled recently to Japan and Paris with no issues.

I was so happy to find the Byetta blogs. I am not alone. I started taking Byetta 6 months ago and have currently lost 45 lbs., something unheard of for me. Byetta cleared up my head the first month so I was lucid-work is much better. I miss eating as I really get a kick out of it, but I like losing weight more. 5 mg pen did not cause nasea but 10 mg pen makes me puke when I eat too much or the wrong food. I have been trying to write down the foods that don't cause nausea. My tastes have really changed. For God's sake, I like snow peas now and can hardly stand to even think of meat. Byetta seems to cause a lot of phlegm. It also seems to be doing something to my thyroid-it seems to be regulating it more toward normal. It seems like the site of injections affects how the byetta works. It also seems like some pens are a different quality than others and affect the system differently. I take glucovance with byetta but when I take them at the same time I am incredibly sleepy. I feel a lot better if I don't take the glucovance but my blood sugars esp. the next morning are too high. Like between 160 and 190. The thing I like best about byetta is that I have a normal sex drive again rather than being dead from the waist down. I've been sick this wek from overeating as I am on winter break from work and I read on a bog that one rabbit will feed a gila monster for a year so I pretended to be a gila monster with a fat full tail today and drank vitamin shakes and sips of liquid. No nausea, ha, ha. Plus it is interesting to play gila monster peering around a cholla cactus during a blizzard. lol I sure hope my doctor does not take me off of byetta for some reason. Blessings to all for the new year. Scary Jeri

Wow! That Frio wallet: Frio Wallet - http://www.coolerconcept.com/ is really cool! Literally. Thanks for the tip John. I have travel plans in the near future and was worried about keeping my Byetta cool.

i have been told that you cannot use byetta if you are on insulin. i currently am on 44u.of lantus at nite. i also take glucotrol xl 10mg twice a day. i am not able to use glucophage(metformin) due to severe diarrhia when on metformin.. i read in one comment that one of the patients is on lantus and is using byetta. what's up with that???? can you use both byetta and lantus? thanks

Hi. I have been taking Byetta for 5 days now (the 10 units) and I have vomited every single time after taking it except once. I also waje up with blood sugars in the 200's in the mornings but when I take the Byetta my sugars drop to the 50's or 60's. I want to stick it out but don't know how much longer I can take. I have a 2 little girls (ages 2 and 3) I have to take care of every day and now I have been on the couch every day too nauseated to do anything with them. I want to try this to lose weight as I am 5'4 and 160 pounds. The insulin really made me gain weight when I started taking it 2 years ago. I had gestational diabetes with my second daughter that never went away after the pregnancy. I really hope I get better on the Byetta. Maybe I need to switch to the lower dose first.

I started taking 5mg byetta in september done fine but didn't help with my high blood sugars. my doctor didn't change to 10 till march. find til about 1 hour after i take the shot then the extreme nausea and headaches start for about 2 hrs, then the drowziness starts. by the time i am feeling better it is time to take the next shot. but my blood sugars are going down. hope the side effects stop soon. don't no if i can keep this up. can't hardly get any work done.