RE: Byetta

By Fran Kremlick Wednesday, May 30, 2007

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This is just my experience of 4 months on Byetta. I never lost weight but did manage to lower my glucose levels. (I have never had a reading above 220 that I know of) I have Dawn Phenomenon and it was with that in mind, I began Byetta.
If it works for you it is well worth trying. However, I was sickish the whole time and was craving sweets/carbs, especially chocolate.
I've been off it for two weeks now and everything seems to be back to normal except for an occassional hint of feeling sickish.

I set this as an alert, just to give one story. The more important thing is to talk with you doctor. Mine is very understanding and keep close touch with me.
Fran

Metformin and B12 deficiency

Comments (8) | Add comment

Sallie T

6/ 4/07 1:52pm

I have been on Byetta for about a year and I don't think it has done much for me. I am always sick, I did not lose weight, and when my dose was increased to 10mcg I began having extreme hypoglycemic episodes, readings as low as 56.

I don't understand why it is paired with Avandia or Actos. They never made any difference to me and now I think they are dangerous.

I got better results when I became a vegan.

Sallie T

Fran Kremlick

6/ 4/07 2:35pm

Sallie, even my short experience worries me about Byetta's possible side effects. I was on 5mcg for one week and then 10 mcg for three weeks. I've been off now for about 3 weeks and feel better, but still have some sense "not feeling well" when I'm making meals and such. I think I'm going to work harder at being a vegetarian.
Good luck to you. Hope you feel "back to "normal" soon.
Fran

Sallie T

6/ 4/07 3:06pm

thanks Fran.

Any thoughts on Actos or Avandia?

Fran

6/ 4/07 3:49pm

Not really. I'd be worried about Avandia. Never have used either. I take Glucophage and it doesn't do much but it helps.
I think it is very difficult to get the right meds for us; very individual. I'm in a support group that meets in Sept to May and it is led by nurses, one works in the nutrition field and one specifically in diabetes. During the summer they are available on an individual basis. Do you have something like that?
Fran

clk

6/ 5/07 2:19pm

Fran, I was on Byetta for two months and did not loose even 1 ounce. The Byetta only lowered my bg for about 2 1/2 hours and then it would rise up, up, and away. I understand now that the half-life of byetta is 2 1/2 hours. I am currently taking metformin, januvia, and lantus and my bg have come down significantly. The lantus is still being adjusted since I seem to get stuck just above 100 for fasting with occassional teasing readings of 95. What helped me the most was the lantus. Metformin did nothing my bg kept rising, Januvia helped a little but not much, cinnamon (cinnulin pf) is helping keep the bg more level and seems to compliment the lantus well. The naturopath (I use supplements to complement my traditional medicines) just increased my chromium pic. from 400 mcg to 1000 mcg one week ago but, I am not noticing any change yet in bg.

It just goes to show that we are all individuals and what works for one may not work for someone else. I am currently waiting for a new endo to join my clinic as my endo retired (drat the man, we worked well together). When he/she arrives I will be discussing what to do next since I want my a1c under 6.0 (currently it is 6.6).

clk

Fran Kremlick

6/ 6/07 10:28am

Clk, Your experience is very interesting. My bg is usually from 120-150+ during the day. It's never above 200. My A1c is generally about 6.5. The highest it's been was 7.2.

I'm very interested in the cinnulin pf. I know cinnamon is very good for us, but the doses of the regular cinnamon is huge.

Thanks for you in put. It is so individual that it seems that each of us will have similar stories.

Fran

clk

6/ 6/07 10:51am

For more info on cinnulin pf contact Pat DeVoe at Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation. www.diabetesaction.org

I spoke with Pat and discussed the cinnamon and she guided me to some of the research abstracts from the studies.

clk

Fran Kremlick

6/ 6/07 2:44pm

Thank You, Clk. I'll be going there shortly. I love cinnamon.
Fran

RE: Byetta

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