Expert Answers (1)
02/14/06
03:32 PM
Thank you for asking the question about Byetta. Lets talk a little about it before I give an answer.
Byetta is a recently introduced treatment for type 2 diabetes and represents a class of hormones called incretins. These incretin–like medications mimic the natural hormones found in the gut. One particular incretin hormone, called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is released in response to food intake and it has some interesting actions. Byetta (generic name Exenatide) is a medication that acts like GLP-1 when injected and this is what it does. First it stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin, but only when the blood sugar goes up after a meal. Secondly it slows down stomach emptying time so that your food does not hit your system so quickly thereby avoiding a rapid rise in blood sugar after the meal. The third thing it does is to keep your liver from producing unwanted glucose after the meal. It seems that the liver does that in type 2 diabetes patients and it is partially responsible for elevated post meal blood sugars. A fourth benefit is that people often eat less and lose weight when they start Byetta.
At this time the Food and Drug Administration says that Byetta can be used by people with type 2 diabetes along with metformin or a sulfonylurea or both. It is usually taken within 60 minutes of the first bite of the morning and evening meal. People who take Byetta with a sulfonylurea such as glipizide (Glucatrol), glyburide (Glynase and others), or glimepiride (Amaryl) should be careful about low blood sugars so be sure to check your blood sugar at the appropriate times. Some folks get mild nausea for the first few days but it usually goes away in time. One thing that could help the nausea is to stop eating when you feel full and don’t always be a member of the “clean your plate” club.
Now what about you? Byetta is producing great results in the patients I have seen in my diabetes self management program. As I stated above, Byetta can be used with certain other medications and your doctor may have some ideas of his or her own. I am not sure what your blood tests mean (the “50” and the “70”) and I think you should ask your doctor again what those particular numbers are to avoid any confusion or misunderstanding. The American Diabetes Association recommends that you be below 130 before meals and below 180 1-2 hours after meals while the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends levels below 110 before meals and below 140 2 hours after meals. Blood sugars below 70 should be avoided if possible and treated with a source of carbohydrate if they occur. Look at the numbers you are getting when you check your blood sugar and see if you are close to the targets mentioned above and be sure to ask your doctor all those unanswered questions at your next appointment. You could also consult a Certified Diabetes Educator in your area. Check out the web site www.BYETTA.com.
-James Bennett, RPh, FACA, CDM, CDE
Byetta is a recently introduced treatment for type 2 diabetes and represents a class of hormones called incretins. These incretin–like medications mimic the natural hormones found in the gut. One particular incretin hormone, called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is released in response to food intake and it has some interesting actions. Byetta (generic name Exenatide) is a medication that acts like GLP-1 when injected and this is what it does. First it stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin, but only when the blood sugar goes up after a meal. Secondly it slows down stomach emptying time so that your food does not hit your system so quickly thereby avoiding a rapid rise in blood sugar after the meal. The third thing it does is to keep your liver from producing unwanted glucose after the meal. It seems that the liver does that in type 2 diabetes patients and it is partially responsible for elevated post meal blood sugars. A fourth benefit is that people often eat less and lose weight when they start Byetta.
At this time the Food and Drug Administration says that Byetta can be used by people with type 2 diabetes along with metformin or a sulfonylurea or both. It is usually taken within 60 minutes of the first bite of the morning and evening meal. People who take Byetta with a sulfonylurea such as glipizide (Glucatrol), glyburide (Glynase and others), or glimepiride (Amaryl) should be careful about low blood sugars so be sure to check your blood sugar at the appropriate times. Some folks get mild nausea for the first few days but it usually goes away in time. One thing that could help the nausea is to stop eating when you feel full and don’t always be a member of the “clean your plate” club.
Now what about you? Byetta is producing great results in the patients I have seen in my diabetes self management program. As I stated above, Byetta can be used with certain other medications and your doctor may have some ideas of his or her own. I am not sure what your blood tests mean (the “50” and the “70”) and I think you should ask your doctor again what those particular numbers are to avoid any confusion or misunderstanding. The American Diabetes Association recommends that you be below 130 before meals and below 180 1-2 hours after meals while the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends levels below 110 before meals and below 140 2 hours after meals. Blood sugars below 70 should be avoided if possible and treated with a source of carbohydrate if they occur. Look at the numbers you are getting when you check your blood sugar and see if you are close to the targets mentioned above and be sure to ask your doctor all those unanswered questions at your next appointment. You could also consult a Certified Diabetes Educator in your area. Check out the web site www.BYETTA.com.
-James Bennett, RPh, FACA, CDM, CDE
Answered By:
JAMES BENNETT
Accreditations: MD, FACE
Sources Show
(1 Answer)
Community Answers (0)
There are currently no community answers to this question.
Be the first to
Post an Answer
Most Recent Insulin Questions:
*** All information contained on dLife.com is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Our Expert Q&A is not intended to be a replacement or substitute for consultation with a qualified medical professional or for professional medical advice related to diabetes or another medical condition. Please contact your physician or medical professional with any questions and concerns about your medical condition.
advertisement
Browse Questions by Category
- All Categories (4333)
- Blood Glucose Monitoring (829)
- Children's Issues (137)
- Coping And Emotional Issues (218)
- Exercise (175)
- Food and Nutrition (946)
- Gestational Diabetes (57)
- Heart Disease and Diabetes (116)
- Insulin (441)
- Insurance and Financial Issues (78)
- Kidney Disease (109)
- Men's Issues (82)
- Neuropathy (173)
- Newly Diagnosed (307)
- Oral Medications (337)
- Prediabetes (160)
- Pumping Issues (50)
- Sexual Issues (58)
- Type 1 (442)
- Type 2 (1073)
- Vision (62)
- Weight Issues (300)
- Women's Issues (159)
- Other (889)
advertisement