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Byetta, diaTribe, and Me

David Mendosa
David Mendosa
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Medical Journalist Living with Diabetes and Author of Fitness and Photography for Fun, www.mendosa.com/fitnessblog

After earning a B.A. with honors from the University of California,...

David Mendosa

Tuesday, April 03, 2007
View All of David Mendosa's Posts
The question that my readers ask most often is, “How are you doing on Byetta now?” The last time I addressed this question was August 16 in “My Byetta Progress Report.” At that time I had lost 68 pounds since starting on Byetta in March 2006. My A1C had dropped a bit from 6.8 ...
  1. Byetta, diaTribe, and Me
    Anonymous
    Tuesday, April 03, 2007 at 03:46 PM

    I actually read the article in diaTribe a few days ago, and I found the following quote one of the most telling pieces of the story:


    The biggest problem is that my waist size dropped from 56 inches to 40 inches.  That meant I had to buy a whole new wardrobe of slacks, shirts and underwear.


    The real story is in the pictures!!  If your readers need any evidence of how much weight you've lost, all they need to do is have a look at your profile photo from a few years ago and compare them to your current profile photo!  Once again, I'm sorry to hear about your wife, but congratulations on your slim, new look!

    Reply
  2. Different results
    Anonymous
    Thursday, April 05, 2007 at 01:03 AM

    I'm glad that you have had such good results from using Byetta. In my case i was slowly but surely gaining weight during the year I was on Byetta. It give give me better sugar control and did help reduce my A1c tests.

     

    I think the main reason my Dr put me on Byetta was to prepare me for having to take insulin shots. Using the Pen gave me the confidence that I could do shots.

     

    This also gave her time to find out about Basel (long lasting) Insulin. She knew that my greatest fear about taking insulin shots was trying to figure doses. I have had several strokes and can get frustrated and confused quite easily.

     

    I have now been taking Lantus shots daily for about a year and things are looking up. I still need to take supplemental pills and of course watch my diet but my weight has both studied off and even started to lower. Something I had almost given up on.

     

    Again congradulations on your weight loss and beter sugar results.

     

    Ray

     

    Reply
  3. The New Trim David Mendoza
    Lori Rode
    Friday, April 06, 2007 at 02:11 PM

    Congratulations on your progress so far on Byetta.  We look forward to seeing the new TRIM David.  I'm confident you will reach your goal.

    Reply
  4. David's weight loss
    Renee
    Saturday, April 07, 2007 at 02:39 AM

    Wow!  Amazing!  I had no idea that you had lost so much weight.  Congratulations on your new found health.  I am wondering if you would be kind enough to share again what your daily eating program looks like.

    I am on Byetta and have lost about 18 pounds but I know I am not eating right, I am just not eating much because of the diminished appetite.

    Some input by you would be very helpful.

     

    Reply
  5. Remission
    Anonymous
    Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 06:08 PM

    So, do you still take medication? I have 30 pounds to go before I am trim. I have lost 50 pounds.  I am sitting here at work  hungry and in cloths that are floating. I have not decreased any medication and I have increased my exercise. I have healthy food here at work but there is a neat balance between over snacking and staving off atacking the refrigerator the moment I walk in the door and the time my evening shot takes effect and I lose interest in food for a while. Yes, it is working but it is one of the toughest things I have done.

    Carole

    Reply
  6. Remission
    David Mendosa
    Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 07:28 PM
    Yes, I still take medication -- Byetta. That's the only one!
    Reply
  7. Tops for Byetta users
    Steve
    Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 09:40 AM
    Was it the lack of appetite or eating different foods or differnet eating habits that caused the weight loss? Or did the Byetta just make you lose weight. I've been using it for a couple of years but haven't experienced the amount of weight loss you have. Byetta in combinaton with South Beack caused me to lose about 50 pounds but now just using Byetta has caused a slight weight gain. Any tips?

    Reply
    re: Tops for Byetta users
    David Mendosa
    Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 10:07 AM

    Steve,

    It was all of the above, plus a lot of exercise. The exercise came easily because I had a lot more energy. Also, I really wanted to lose weight and watch my diet and weight very closely every day. I do have a bunch of weight loss tips at:


    Tips for Weight Loss

    Reply
  8. Byetta
    Eleanor Guerrero
    Thursday, January 03, 2008 at 03:08 AM
    I have replied to some responses before and mentioned on my last comment that I began to get a rash and I believed that I might be allergic to it. I went to the doctor and he was surprised that this had happened because he said that he had never heard of anyone being allergic to it. I had abdominal pain for about 4 weeks after taking Byetta for only a week and I assumed that it was the Byetta because this was the only addition to my medication and assumed it was the Byetta. I went to the doctor again and he said what I had was shingles due to stress and it was not the Byetta. I was happy because I wanted to continue the Byetta since it really cut down on my appetite. I went back on Byetta and have been on it again for 3 weeks and this time there was no rash. Hope this helps some of your readers thinking about taking Byetta. After only a week I had lost 5 pounds.
    Reply
    re: Byetta
    David Mendosa
    Thursday, January 03, 2008 at 11:56 AM

    Dear Eleanor,

     

    Thanks for following up about the rash that you suspected of being from Byetta. Like your doctor, I hadn't heard of that, and I am glad that it wasn't Byetta that caused your rash. But I sure am sorry that it was shingles! That can be painful.

     

    Best regards,

     

    David 

    Reply
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