A Nightmare of Epic Proportions

Dear Blythe,

I am here to tell you today that Byetta really does work -- both to help us lose weight and to control our blood glucose levels when we have diabetes. While weight loss is in theory just a "side effect" of the blood glucose control, for me it was the main game.

When I started taking Byetta on February 7, 2006, my blood glucose wasn't too bad at 6.8%, according to my A1C level. But I weighed 312 pounds on my 6' 3" frame, tall but certainly not tall enough to support that much weight.

Today, my A1C is down to 5.6 or probably less. My weight is down to 157.

I have written a lot about Byetta here. Perseus Books just published my book, Losing Weight with Your Diabetes Medication. You can find it at just about any bookstore nationwide as well as at Amazon.com.

Please read my book and please get back to me and tell me of your success.

Best regards,

David 

Hello Blythe,

It sounds like you are dealing with alot on your plate. I am glad you posted here. There are lots of folks who are living the life you are and they are happy to share their experiences with all of us. While this is not a replacement for your doctor's advice, Health Central is a great place to find out about the latest treatments, new medicines and get help from ordinary people just like you about diet and lifestyle changes.

Now I am not a doctor, but there are a couple things you have said that tell me there are some questions you need to ask your doctor.

First, you said you were on Prednisone for the mono. Prednisone (and all steroids) will raise your blood sugar levels, in fact Dr Quick has written an article here, that states that as well as cause the weight gain, bloating and other issues.  You can read more about prednisone here.  You should ask your doctor about your diagnosis of diabetes. Were you tested for diabetes? Was your sugar level tested after fasting or did they do the coke test? Given your condition and before weight, I would think they would have watched you for a bit, rather than just diagnose you as diabetic.

Another thing that will raise blood sugar levels is stress, and it sounds like you have plenty!! Ginger Vieira is a resident expert here and you can read her take on stress and blood glucose levels here. Amy Mercer has a great post here about stress and blood glucose levels. Lots of folks chimed in on the comments section to offer advice and tips for dealing. 

Finally, I am assuming that your doctor has indeed determined that you have full blown type 2 diabetes because you mentioned the Byetta. Byetta has done wonders for people with type 2 diabetes in helping them control their blood sugars while also helping them lose weight, however I don't see your weight as being a problem at this point. David Mendosa has had some very good luck with the Byetta and lucky for us, as documented his experiences, but I would still caution you to make sure you follow your doctors instructions for using Byetta as one of the issues can be extreme low blood sugars which is just as bad.

There is a posting here by David that talks about when Byetta fails to produce the desired results. You can also read the comments to see how others are doing.

I hope you have found something in this posting that helps you when it's time to chat with your doctor. Please do stay in touch and let us know how you are doing, how the job search is going. If you are having a good day let us know about it! Perhaps something you are doing would work for someone else. Also, if you are having a particularly challenging day, we want to hear about that too! Might be someone here who has some advice or shares an experience that will help you!

Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing!

Vicki M

Hi Blythe

I have been on Byetta and Metformin for almost a year and with diet and exercise I have lost a total of 60 lbs.  Byetta really does help with appetite control and weight loss but you still have to help things along with a proper eating pattern.

I have found that a walk (30 to 45 min) 5 days a week helps me with depression, sadness

and a feeling of O CRAP how did I get to be a diabetic and the why me feeling.

I still have 50 lbs to go in my effort to be healthier but my A1C is 5.9 and my cholestrol is down to 152 from a high of 310.  It isn't easy and some days I want to say the heck with it but there are so many side effects from diabeties that I have become "scared straight". Please find a good Dr. that will support  and guide you through this tough time in your life.  They really are out there.  Also there are very good web sites such as this one that can help with some really helpful tips on diet, exercise and other wellness tips.

My very best to you on your path to wellness.

Thank you all so very much for writing me back.  This disease can make you feel like a bit of a freak, so it's terrific to know that there are people out there like me as well.  Thank you for all your kind information.  It's given me an entirely different outlook on my disease.  I got my C1A scores and they were a 6.1.  I had a major migraine the day of my appointment so I just called for the report my new appointment is on March, 25. I have no clue what that scsore means.  Is it good or bad?  It has to be bad because my aunt who is also a diabetic and who loves to eat got a 5. something and I've never been into eating.  My cousin's first words were "Eat Blythe!" then he'd reach over from his high chair and steal all my food. So I have to find out about the score thing.

I have a much older neighbor who I don't often see, who is a Type II diabetic.  She went on Byetta and said the side effects were awful.  She described them and they sounded pretty bad but I'd go through it any day to have my life back.  At my height thirty five extra pounds makes a huuuuuggggeeee difference in my dress size.  It really shows. I've been trying to lose weight but since I always forget to eat I don't lose anything.  Lately however I've noticed that I start feeling sick at 120 or so.

People do treat you differently when you don't look so hot, or feel like you don't look good.  Right before I got sick I'd gone shopping and gotten a few things and they're a size four.  Ha, ha, ha,!  I think a garment of that size would burst open just TRYING to put it on.  My back is thrashed so I had to give up my two favorite forms of exercise: my horse and running.  I have a treadmill for rainy days and now my dogs are the only one's who use it.  Occasionally the cat will hop on for company so at least it's going to good use.

Selling my horse was like selling my very best friend, but I cannot ride him.  No way.  So now I ride a recumbenant bike, not my favorite.  How do you guys motivate yourselves to exercise? I wanted to walk but my doctor said impossible.  So how do you motivate yourself to do something five days a week that is about as fun as pounding sand?  I would love the suggestions.  Tell me your experiences on Byetta?  I would love to know how common the side effects are.  Thank you all again for replying, you have no idea how much it means to me!  Blythe

Hi Blythe,

I am not sure why you couldn't ride your horse anymore. I think I missed that part.

A couple of your questions I can help with tho.  

Your A1C level is how they measure your glucose level over a period of 2-3 months. A good reading is generally under 6. So at 6.1 you are ok. It will continue to go down as you lose more weight and get your diabetes under control. Here is an article that explains a little more about the test. 

I just recently started Byetta and one of the things I have to be careful is to make sure I eat after I take it. It's really easy to forget and that will cause some of the nausea that people suffer. Other wise it's been pretty good. I am down a little over 7lbs in 2 weeks. But I have to remember to eat. At least when I take the Byetta in the mornings and evenings. You can read more about Byetta here.

Do Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing!! 

Hi guys, I finally got on Byetta.  I've already lost 5 lbs.  Whoever said you'd lose weight on this wasn't kidding.  I haven't had any of the nausea EXCEPT;

WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING

I haven't had my favorite (trout) in 2 years.  Today I had two pieces, way more food than I'm used to.

At least for my you CANNOT eat like a piggy like I did tonight while taking Byetta.  I have been sick since I ate the two pieces.  The nauseation is horrid awful.  I finally decided I couldn't deal with this anymore.  I went to the restroom, put two fingers down my throat and let it rip.  Throwing up is awful, but in this case it was the lesser of two evils.  I really learned my lesson.  I feel much better after throwing up but it was disgusting and I'll never overeat again.  Not even if I'm at a five star restaurant.

Overall I'm happy with this drug though.  If you try it, just watch it.  Trust me.

Blythe