Yeah, my doctor wasn't too pleased. So many people had success with it.
Lantus is a form of insulin but you do stay on the type 2 meds. It helps when I'm on plan with the diet, but I still struggle with the numbers when my diet is off. Diet is so key with me. You think that would be motivation enough to stay on program, but the cravings, boredom, frustration all win.
Note to self: The lizard does not like raw onions! Even on hamburgers!
I am finding out that I can tolerate most stuff, if I am careful. If I overeat, I can tell. Spicy food and things like raw onion and green pepper do NOT sit well, and protein is essential. Even if it is just in milk or yogurt.
Weight loss has slowed, but that may be my fault too. I am not getting in as much exercise, and perhaps eating more than I was at first. I will monitor that and see if it changes.
This is week four...and my glucose levels are incredibly normal! Usually they are in the 80's or 90's before and between meals and around 115 to 120 after meals. The most impressive is the morning fasting level. Before Byetta, it was always high, around 140 to 180. Now, it is usually in the 90's or right at 100. I feel very encouraged.
The doctor upped my Byetta to 10mcg. Thanke goodness I didn't take my Actos with the Amaryl that day. I had my first scary reaction.
I grabbed 4 spoons of applesause and check my BS right after. I t was 66.
Whew!
I sweat all over and shook. The next day, my left hand got numb and the other things started in.
It was 80 and I drank a glass of tomato juice. Today, I broke my pill in half and took it at each meal. No reaction yet.
All I take is the Byetta shot...at least that's all for the diabetes. I'm on thyroid med, blood pressure med and cholesterol meds... my visit to the doctor a week or so ago showed my iron was low...so a vitamin with iron has been added. my labs were great... hgba1c was 5.5... cholesterol etc right where he wants them....
before byetta I was on actos, glucophage and glucotrol...but doc took me off them when I started byetta...
sorry I didn't respond sooner- i was out of town on a mission trip.
Hello everyone,
I am new to the site and diabetic. I have been having an awful time with control, even when eating correctly. I know that I need to get the weight under control, to help with diabetes control. I currently take insulin, byetta, amaryl, glucophage. My doctor just keeps adding medicine, and it's not helping. Maybe I need to see and endocrinologist?
I think that I will try the Body for Life plan. I have reserved the book from the library, and will be doing more research, but for now, my goal is to get my head in the game and try to make healthier choices.
I look forward to meeting you all. Thanks for any support and advice you may have!
Hi Llamaslosin'! You do have a lot you are taking. And you STILL don't have control? I can imagine how frustrating that must be! Which Byetta do you take? The 5 or 10? I am on the 5 and it works really well for me. Perhaps it would help if you posted some menus, and let others see if there is something you are eating that is hindering your control. I personally follow Sugarbusters and find it a very good plan for managing diabetes. Do you exercise? I find that more important than what I eat for getting my glucose levels down. A 30 minute stroll would lower my glucose sometimes as much as 50 points! I am hooked on exercise now...and try to work out a minimum of 7 times a week. When I checked my sugar levels after a meal, if they were high I would put on my shoes and head out for a walk. If you are NOT exercising, you may find it will help a LOT.
I am glad you are here. I hope you find all the support you need. If you are interested, check out Sugarbusters too. Most of the diabetics post in the big, long thread, so check that one out too.
Hi everyone,
Have since been to the doctor and she took me off the Byetta. I had no idea it was making me so sick. I haven't felt this good in a long time.
I am back to doing Sugar Busters, but I really have to watch portion control! But I have lost 4.5 lbs.
Have to run, hope you are having a great week!
I was looking at this last night. I got some great tips. I am going to be out of town for a while and didn't know what to do about my pen. I thought about getting a portible fridge and all sorts of stuff. Then came accross a post about how they stored their pen in a thermess....I went out and bought one today. This one keeps things cold for 24 hours. I put a couple of cubes of ice in it and off i went. It kept my pen nice and cold. I was really wondering how i was going to do this. Thanks a ton.
Now for my experience from being on the byetta...I love it. I have been on it for a week. It keeps me really level. I have a tendency of dropping supper low, then I eat and I shoot up...constant up and down. With Byetta, it keeps me from botteming out. But, sometimes I have to watch it, because the other day I forgot to eat lunch. I just wasnt hungry. Actually most of the time I am not hungry, it just so happens to be time to eat. I have a DH and child, so skipping meals is not an option. Plus, I do feel good if I miss.
I did notice I have to stick to a eating schedule in order to feel good. I do have a blooted stomach....actually right now. I feel like throwing up most of the time. But, if I just try not to think about it, it goes away.
I swear by the stuff. The other thing is that my stomach gets really itchy on the injection sites...last night I put vit. E oil and some lotion and it felt better in the morning, but I have to do something about this. Also I have pocka dots on my tummy too....anybody else have this problem? Maybe I should inject myself in a pattern to make a cool design.
Hello all...I have been on Byetta since June and agree with the nausea and the certain foods that make it worse..I am on it for Insulin Resistance and have to admit I feel wonderful..It is best to always eat protein with snacks or meals and I find that I have to wait about 45 mintues before eating to slow down the nausea...
If U take other meds(I take vitamins only) I dont take them within 2 hours of the Byetta since stomach emptying time is slower...THey tend to just sit in my stomach and "burn" if I dont wait the 2 hours...
Call the 1-800# on the box and they will send U out a great little case, with a booklet for recording sugars and the cold packs..It is completely free and it comes in 3 days....
Hope no one minds me barging in on the thread
Tanya--I use my legs for the shots..I find them easier to get to and bruise less..Hope the itching and spots resolve.
RR
ROADRUNNER: Of course you are welcome to post on the thread! Thanks for sharing your experiences!
I am finishing up pen #3, and I am thinking after the next one, which is the last refill, I will check with the doctor about moving up to the ten pen. The five still controls my glucose levels fairly well, but the weight loss has stopped.
Hi all,,,I know a few of you from posting on the other threads,,,
I have been on byetta now 5 months ,,2months 5pen and now this is the 3rd ten pen,,,I have been lucky and not had to many side effects at all,,,but for me the bs took a long time to start coming down,,with the 5 pen they started to come down some but when I moved up to the 10 things really started to improve ,,but still slowly,,,nothing has happened fast for me,,I don't have any problems with eating letace or veggies,,but do have to watch my carbs,,there are some that will shot my bs right up,,but if I am careful and follow ww points and eat lots of meat and cheese and some carbs I do well,,,this month with the 3rd ten pen I have really noticed the bs coming down more,,,I have lost a total of 44 pounds,,,and am happy about that of course because I have a lot of wt to lose,,,right now I am at another stall and so I have the scale hidden,,I start to obsese (sp) over it and it makes me crazy,,,I have decieded not to weigh until sept is over and just work on my bs numbers,,,
My insurance won't touch it ,,,so I have to pay out of pocket each month and it is hard for me in that way,,,but I feel worth it,,my doctor is fighting for me to get it paid for but so far no luck,,,it cost me 237 a month and they only make me pay 10.00 copay for the needles,,,go figure,,ha,,,
Anyway just wanted to stop by and say hi and I myself feel real good since being on byetta,,,nice to talk with you all,,,later,,Jeanne AKA blondie
I love Byetta. I no longer have insurance, but I a definately going to stay on the stuff. It has helped my suger levels so much. Have any of you gals tried an online pharmacy? They are cheaper, but not sure they can be trusted.
I figured out my itchy stomach problem. I wasnt using alchohol for my injection site. They didn't mention that to me...so I didnt do it. I figured that I should try doing that first...well, no more itchy stomach. I still get the dots, but I am goign to try injecting my leg and see how that works.
I am finding out that I can tolerate most stuff, if I am careful. If I overeat, I can tell. Spicy food and things like raw onion and green pepper do NOT sit well, and protein is essential. Even if it is just in milk or yogurt. 
Hi
The next day, my left hand got numb and the other things started in. 
You do have a lot you are taking. And you STILL don't have control? I can imagine how frustrating that must be! Which Byetta do you take? The 5 or 10? I am on the 5 and it works really well for me. Perhaps it would help if you posted some menus, and let others see if there is something you are eating that is hindering your control. I personally follow Sugarbusters and find it a very good plan for managing diabetes. Do you exercise? I find that more important than what I eat for getting my glucose levels down. A 30 minute stroll would lower my glucose sometimes as much as 50 points! I am hooked on exercise now...and try to work out a minimum of 7 times a week. When I checked my sugar levels after a meal, if they were high I would put on my shoes and head out for a walk. If you are NOT exercising, you may find it will help a LOT. 
