Discussion
Saddle bum said:
Anyone with experience of Byetta (Exenatide) as a diabetic treatment.
Appears to be working wonders with my sugar levels and reducing weight.
Thread resurrection time, well, it is technically easter still....Appears to be working wonders with my sugar levels and reducing weight.
My sugars have gone apocalyptically high this year, for no obvious reasons. Lost weight (albeit not much) and diet not changed a great deal. Doc has suggested I carry on with metformin and piagliclazone for a while longer but to consider Exenatide...
How have you got on with it, are the side affects bad, what do you take with it? Any hypos? What about reports of portion control etc? For some reason I'm kind of nervous about it...
Referred to as a miracle drug by my GP!! Weight loss commonly reported, reduction in sugar levels - the biz. Unfortunately it didn't do it for me and I'm now on insulin (with consequent 3 year licence from DVLA and loss of driving 7.5 tonne vehicle without satisfying HGV medical requirements. No side effects tho in year I had it - and I was one of those who couldn't tolerate metformin so had pioglitazone and glipizide instead.
Have now been on Byetta since November last year. I have lost over 30lbs.
Pyoglitazone plus Insulin is notorious for piling on weight, in the form of fluid, so the initial weight loss is water. I no longer take either.
My experience with Byetta, is mostly positive. The rapid weight loss has now subsided and I hope that a steady one pound a week will continue. Blood sugar control is very good.
There is reported evidence of considerable variation on the drug's potency between different batches. My March Byetta pen, did not seem as effective, but the April one I am now using seems to be much more so, with marginally more nausea. I accept the mild nausea and have learned to put up with it.
Users soon learn that once acceptable portions now seem like feasts. I have to force myself to eat lunch, I could quite easily go through to evening dinner without eating.
In my experience, Byetta can also make you drink less fluid, which can lead you to become dehydrated.
In summary, thumbs up all round.
Pyoglitazone plus Insulin is notorious for piling on weight, in the form of fluid, so the initial weight loss is water. I no longer take either.
My experience with Byetta, is mostly positive. The rapid weight loss has now subsided and I hope that a steady one pound a week will continue. Blood sugar control is very good.
There is reported evidence of considerable variation on the drug's potency between different batches. My March Byetta pen, did not seem as effective, but the April one I am now using seems to be much more so, with marginally more nausea. I accept the mild nausea and have learned to put up with it.
Users soon learn that once acceptable portions now seem like feasts. I have to force myself to eat lunch, I could quite easily go through to evening dinner without eating.
In my experience, Byetta can also make you drink less fluid, which can lead you to become dehydrated.
In summary, thumbs up all round.
Thanks for the info. i put on tonnes of weight (2 stone) with gliclazide and metformin, though piagliclazone and metformin left my weight stable. Am currently on metformin and sitagliptin (typo in last post) Sitagliptin worked really well at first but seems to have had secondary failure.
Am quite concerned re portion control as I love my food, especially curry and cannot imagine not having a good nosebag on a Friday night!
So, just to clarify, you take only Byetta, no metformin either? 30lb weight loss sounds ideal, I need to lose another 18 to reach my ideal weight and get back into 32" waist trousers.....
Am quite concerned re portion control as I love my food, especially curry and cannot imagine not having a good nosebag on a Friday night!
So, just to clarify, you take only Byetta, no metformin either? 30lb weight loss sounds ideal, I need to lose another 18 to reach my ideal weight and get back into 32" waist trousers.....
When I took Byetta I carried on with the pills I was taking too. I lied in previous post! Blonde senior moment!! I did have some side effects - not on the initial 5 dose but on the permanent 10, with nausea. Wasn't ever sick, but felt as if I was going to be. This nausea never really eased off til I took some prescribed anti nausea drugs which worked fine
Thanks for digging this up.
Only a couple of days ago, I saw the Diabetes consultant. He said I was a star. I had one of the best results with Byetta that he had seen.
Good sugar levels and a loss of 52lb, 23kg in about 10 months. The weight is till going down resulting from a combination of sensible eating and portion control plus exercise.
Blood pressure medication has had to be halved due to the reduction in body mass. Cholesterol is now 2.2 and the Statins will have to be reduced as well.
Byetta seems to be a life saver, at least for me.
I need to buy a new wardrobe of clothes, anybody fancy chipping in?
Only a couple of days ago, I saw the Diabetes consultant. He said I was a star. I had one of the best results with Byetta that he had seen.
Good sugar levels and a loss of 52lb, 23kg in about 10 months. The weight is till going down resulting from a combination of sensible eating and portion control plus exercise.
Blood pressure medication has had to be halved due to the reduction in body mass. Cholesterol is now 2.2 and the Statins will have to be reduced as well.
Byetta seems to be a life saver, at least for me.
I need to buy a new wardrobe of clothes, anybody fancy chipping in?
Saddle bum said:
Thanks for digging this up.
Only a couple of days ago, I saw the Diabetes consultant. He said I was a star. I had one of the best results with Byetta that he had seen.
Good sugar levels and a loss of 52lb, 23kg in about 10 months. The weight is till going down resulting from a combination of sensible eating and portion control plus exercise.
Blood pressure medication has had to be halved due to the reduction in body mass. Cholesterol is now 2.2 and the Statins will have to be reduced as well.
Byetta seems to be a life saver, at least for me.
I need to buy a new wardrobe of clothes, anybody fancy chipping in?
Thats really great news! How do you find the nausea and the lifestyle aspect, i.e. taking it 1 hour before meals? Those are the bits that concern me as I have very busy / hectic work life, leaving for work very early some days and meal times often irregular as have two small kids who often throw plans out plus partner who is not well organised and things change, which is fine, but I can foresee issues...Only a couple of days ago, I saw the Diabetes consultant. He said I was a star. I had one of the best results with Byetta that he had seen.
Good sugar levels and a loss of 52lb, 23kg in about 10 months. The weight is till going down resulting from a combination of sensible eating and portion control plus exercise.
Blood pressure medication has had to be halved due to the reduction in body mass. Cholesterol is now 2.2 and the Statins will have to be reduced as well.
Byetta seems to be a life saver, at least for me.
I need to buy a new wardrobe of clothes, anybody fancy chipping in?
For example, if I have an early start, I would get up at 5am, quick wash, breakfast, tablets then travel to destination - get there at 7.30 - 8.00 and have a snack/2nd breakfast. If I had to wait an hour before I ate i would have to get up at 4.30..?
The actual medication sounds very good I have to say, its just everything around it that concerns!
Saddle bum said:
Thanks for digging this up.
Only a couple of days ago, I saw the Diabetes consultant. He said I was a star. I had one of the best results with Byetta that he had seen.
Good sugar levels and a loss of 52lb, 23kg in about 10 months. The weight is till going down resulting from a combination of sensible eating and portion control plus exercise.
Blood pressure medication has had to be halved due to the reduction in body mass. Cholesterol is now 2.2 and the Statins will have to be reduced as well.
Byetta seems to be a life saver, at least for me.
I need to buy a new wardrobe of clothes, anybody fancy chipping in?
I hope you don't mind me asking, what was your weight when you first started on the Byetta? And what is it now?Only a couple of days ago, I saw the Diabetes consultant. He said I was a star. I had one of the best results with Byetta that he had seen.
Good sugar levels and a loss of 52lb, 23kg in about 10 months. The weight is till going down resulting from a combination of sensible eating and portion control plus exercise.
Blood pressure medication has had to be halved due to the reduction in body mass. Cholesterol is now 2.2 and the Statins will have to be reduced as well.
Byetta seems to be a life saver, at least for me.
I need to buy a new wardrobe of clothes, anybody fancy chipping in?
Team 17 said:
Saddle bum said:
Team 17 said:
I hope you don't mind me asking, what was your weight when you first started on the Byetta? And what is it now?
Oct/Nov '09 = 113KgAug '10 = 90Kg
Edit: Target weight = 83Kg
Edited by Saddle bum on Wednesday 11th August 10:46
Keep it up.
Just finished the workshop and it was far from fun. Was youngest there by 20 years, bloke next to me thinks he is a comedian answering a request for his name with 'Mickey Mouse' I mean, wtf? Bloke opposite in his fifties brought both his parents along.... Another seemed to think Byetta was good as if you go on insulin you are banned from driving.... Several people worried they can no longer eat grapes or bananas. Days like today i regret relocating to South Yorkshire as there are some seriously thick people up here, I mean, seriously thick. And most scared of needles it would seem. Again, I'm sorry, but WTF?
Anyway, looks a bit of a faff, I thought the pen would be simpler but didnt realise you needed to put a new needle on it each time and the 60 min jab before a meal is not as easy as it might be, with my life style. Looking forward to weight loss though!!
Actually feeling extremely depressed about the whole thing. And left rear brake on volvo is sticking too.
Anyway, looks a bit of a faff, I thought the pen would be simpler but didnt realise you needed to put a new needle on it each time and the 60 min jab before a meal is not as easy as it might be, with my life style. Looking forward to weight loss though!!
Actually feeling extremely depressed about the whole thing. And left rear brake on volvo is sticking too.
TedMaul said:
Just finished the workshop and it was far from fun. Was youngest there by 20 years, bloke next to me thinks he is a comedian answering a request for his name with 'Mickey Mouse' I mean, wtf? Bloke opposite in his fifties brought both his parents along.... Another seemed to think Byetta was good as if you go on insulin you are banned from driving.... Several people worried they can no longer eat grapes or bananas. Days like today i regret relocating to South Yorkshire as there are some seriously thick people up here, I mean, seriously thick. And most scared of needles it would seem. Again, I'm sorry, but WTF?
Anyway, looks a bit of a faff, I thought the pen would be simpler but didnt realise you needed to put a new needle on it each time and the 60 min jab before a meal is not as easy as it might be, with my life style. Looking forward to weight loss though!!
Actually feeling extremely depressed about the whole thing. And left rear brake on volvo is sticking too.
Come on, buck up there. It's no big deal.Anyway, looks a bit of a faff, I thought the pen would be simpler but didnt realise you needed to put a new needle on it each time and the 60 min jab before a meal is not as easy as it might be, with my life style. Looking forward to weight loss though!!
Actually feeling extremely depressed about the whole thing. And left rear brake on volvo is sticking too.
Any time within the hour before eating will do. The only major problem if you leave it a bit late, is the possibility of acid heartburn.
I had 3 'interesting' people on my byetta induction, plus a non show - worried baout their diabetes obviously - not. They make a big fuss about it, but I think having met your fellow 'students' you may understand the mentality at which they have to aim.
It's very easy to do, and time wasn't so crucial it seemd to me once I got going. did they tell you to use your stomach as injection site? When I was given insulin they told me I could use my inner thighs as well, which gives you far more area to play with. Also you can inject - not recommended but most people do apparently - through clothing - again, I do that all the time now.
I actually find insulin easier - same pen and needle routine - and the regime I'm on allows for my erratic eating habits, so I just inject before food, apart from 1 daily slow release jab in the evening. Word of warning - they've actually decided I produce virtually no insulin at all, which is why the byetta worked initially but then tailed off, and I'm now on large doses of insulin, having upped them slowly myself (at diabetic nurse's instruction I hasten to add!) to get the post fast sub 7 blood sugar reading they lust after.
It's very easy to do, and time wasn't so crucial it seemd to me once I got going. did they tell you to use your stomach as injection site? When I was given insulin they told me I could use my inner thighs as well, which gives you far more area to play with. Also you can inject - not recommended but most people do apparently - through clothing - again, I do that all the time now.
I actually find insulin easier - same pen and needle routine - and the regime I'm on allows for my erratic eating habits, so I just inject before food, apart from 1 daily slow release jab in the evening. Word of warning - they've actually decided I produce virtually no insulin at all, which is why the byetta worked initially but then tailed off, and I'm now on large doses of insulin, having upped them slowly myself (at diabetic nurse's instruction I hasten to add!) to get the post fast sub 7 blood sugar reading they lust after.
Broomsticklady said:
I had 3 'interesting' people on my byetta induction, plus a non show - worried baout their diabetes obviously - not. They make a big fuss about it, but I think having met your fellow 'students' you may understand the mentality at which they have to aim.
It's very easy to do, and time wasn't so crucial it seemd to me once I got going. did they tell you to use your stomach as injection site? When I was given insulin they told me I could use my inner thighs as well, which gives you far more area to play with. Also you can inject - not recommended but most people do apparently - through clothing - again, I do that all the time now.
I actually find insulin easier - same pen and needle routine - and the regime I'm on allows for my erratic eating habits, so I just inject before food, apart from 1 daily slow release jab in the evening. Word of warning - they've actually decided I produce virtually no insulin at all, which is why the byetta worked initially but then tailed off, and I'm now on large doses of insulin, having upped them slowly myself (at diabetic nurse's instruction I hasten to add!) to get the post fast sub 7 blood sugar reading they lust after.
Oh I agree, complete fools, but the fact they are so much older makes me worried |I have so much further to go. I don't know why I have to say. For some reason just feel very deflated about it. The drug is clearly the bees knees. I just guess it feels like one more piece of aggravation on top of an already hard day and it could be anything 'more' that brings me down, it may be that byetta is a straw that is breaking the camels back and I'm not being fair.It's very easy to do, and time wasn't so crucial it seemd to me once I got going. did they tell you to use your stomach as injection site? When I was given insulin they told me I could use my inner thighs as well, which gives you far more area to play with. Also you can inject - not recommended but most people do apparently - through clothing - again, I do that all the time now.
I actually find insulin easier - same pen and needle routine - and the regime I'm on allows for my erratic eating habits, so I just inject before food, apart from 1 daily slow release jab in the evening. Word of warning - they've actually decided I produce virtually no insulin at all, which is why the byetta worked initially but then tailed off, and I'm now on large doses of insulin, having upped them slowly myself (at diabetic nurse's instruction I hasten to add!) to get the post fast sub 7 blood sugar reading they lust after.
Away on business next week so will start next Sat after a big blow out curry!!! (only kidding I will eat like a mouse as suggestewd)
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