called byetta
and am disappointed.
there was no studies done of byetta and insulin so they won’t give me any
help as to how much to lower if any my lantus.
they have no studies in the works either. they can’t even say if it’s safe
to use with insulin!
the one thing the woman did say was that byetta only woks on your post
prandial bg’s so she didn’t think i would have problems overnight since i
would be shooting spit at 5 pm.
i am going to do this tomorrow! i just don’t know what to do with the lantus
dose tonight. i really hate that lantus is supposed to last 24 hours. i
think i had much better control when i took 4 to 6 shots daily of different
insulins. lantus is screwing me because of it’s duration. i’m sure it only
lasts about 20 to 22 hours but still. no room to correct. the other way, i
could either raise or lower an injection to stabilize.
jodi
March 27th, 2004 at 4:32 am
Jodi,
don’t take insulin because of a really bad reaction to it, but I have read
about it a lot and Bernstein (Diabetes Solution) wrote exactly the same thing -
that people are far better controlled on multiple doses through the day rather
than a 24 hour shot.
Why put you on something that is so hard to control? Can he put you back on
your other types of insulin which are easier to control during this adjustment
period? Since most everyone on here is on or has been on insulin with Byetta it
is sort of a given that they are safe to use together, we just have to be
careful of the interaction that could cause a hypo.
Remember the recent discussion about the half-life of byetta. If you are using
it at 5 p.m. then assuming a half-life of 2.4 hours you’d have about 14% of the
original byetta injection in your body at 1 a.m. and that is probably
insufficient to do much. It certainly is the case for me during the evening as
I still have dawn effect issues. (grump)
Cheers!
Marsha
March 27th, 2004 at 1:08 pm
Finally convinced my needle resistant hubby to give Byetta a try since his BG
has recently bumped up some. It is not recommended for the blind without
assistance, but I have to say that with the clicks one can feel from the
mechanism and the ease of putting things together, I bet I can teach him to use
it pretty rapidly on his own if he needs to do so. I can certainly understand
his not wanting to be dependent upon another person to give him his medication
in case I am gone. We see the doctor this Friday (actually, he sees him, I’m
just along for the ride) and we should be able to get the pen from the pharmacy
that day as they usually have one around now. Because I am gone so much it is
best to start him during a day I am home in case there are any problems with
lows, but I don’t anticipate a significant problem.
Cheers!
Marsha
March 27th, 2004 at 7:29 pm
> there was no studies done of byetta and insulin so they won’t give me any
help as to how much to lower if any my lantus.
Because everyone reacts differently to the type and amount of insulin, there
really isn’t a set formula to use. I was taking 45u of Lantus twice a day
and cut it to 35u twice a day when I first started Byetta. But that was just
me. I would be conservative about how much to cut the Lantus at first. Maybe
cut it by 25%.
> i really hate that lantus is supposed to last 24 hours. I think i had much
better control when i took 4 to 6 shots daily of different
insulins.
You probably did have better control. For me, the opposite was true. I was
on Lantus, then switched to 70/30 to try to get better control and ended up
all over the place. When I went back onto Lantus, things settled back down
and I was able to make discreet changes to diet and activity knowing that
insulin wasn’t a variable. I am now only taking 30u of Lantus once a day
instead of twice. So for me, the 24 hour nature of Lantus was a good thing.
_____
and am disappointed.
there was no studies done of byetta and insulin so they won’t give me any
help as to how much to lower if any my lantus.
they have no studies in the works either. they can’t even say if it’s safe
to use with insulin!
the one thing the woman did say was that byetta only woks on your post
prandial bg’s so she didn’t think i would have problems overnight since i
would be shooting spit at 5 pm.
i am going to do this tomorrow! i just don’t know what to do with the lantus
dose tonight. i really hate that lantus is supposed to last 24 hours. i
think i had much better control when i took 4 to 6 shots daily of different
insulins. lantus is screwing me because of it’s duration. i’m sure it only
lasts about 20 to 22 hours but still. no room to correct. the other way, i
could either raise or lower an injection to stabilize.
jodi
Anything posted in this group is the opinion of the person who posted it.
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_____
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March 27th, 2004 at 9:15 pm
dr won’t put me back on multi shots. he put me on lantus right after it came
out and from what i have heard, he has everyone on it now. i think it’s
easier for him and he doesn’t have to explain the old sliding scale as much
now. he doesn’t even like to add humalog for meals but prefers to keep you
on low carbs and supplement with orals if you’re not type 1.
and yes, i suppose i didn’t consider dose being so spent at 1 am. will get
through ok…just have to d the paranoid thing cause that’s the way my brain
is comfortable.
jodi
Jodi,
don’t take insulin because of a really bad reaction to it, but I have read
about it a lot and Bernstein (Diabetes Solution) wrote exactly the same
thing - that people are far better controlled on multiple doses through the
day rather than a 24 hour shot.
Why put you on something that is so hard to control? Can he put you back
on your other types of insulin which are easier to control during this
adjustment period? Since most everyone on here is on or has been on insulin
with Byetta it is sort of a given that they are safe to use together, we
just have to be careful of the interaction that could cause a hypo.
Remember the recent discussion about the half-life of byetta. If you are
using it at 5 p.m. then assuming a half-life of 2.4 hours you’d have about
14% of the original byetta injection in your body at 1 a.m. and that is
probably insufficient to do much. It certainly is the case for me during
the evening as I still have dawn effect issues. (grump)
Cheers!
Marsha
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
March 28th, 2004 at 1:16 am
Hi everyone,
Thank all of you who write here. It has been such a help reading your
experiences, both with our wonderful lizard and your diabetes.
For me, the most important, thing I have learned from you has been how
differently we all react, both to medications and in our responses to everyday
living..exercise, stress, foods. It seems none of us are textbook diabetics.
Sure made me feel better to see I’m not the only one whose body doesn’t respond
as the "experts" tell us it should. :>)
I was always thinking anything that happened in regard to my diabetes was my
fault. Even when my records showed me differently, I knew if I had
only…exercised more, eaten less, not worried, etc, etc. my readings would be
wonderful. Well, now I am seeing that all I can do is the best I can and what
happens with this body is not always in my control. I have do my part though,
of course, but not carrying around all that guilt when the numbers go up or drop
suddenly for no apparent reason has sure been a nice feeling.
Thanks!
Nancy
March 28th, 2004 at 6:20 am
Jodi,
I’m a PITA (Pain in the A**) patient. If I wanted multi-shot treatments and my
dr. would not do it even though it was better for me, I’d find a new doctor.
There are a lot of them out there who would love to treat a paying customer who
is actively involved in her own health care. This sounds like it is all about
what is convenient for him and not what is good for you. That is not good care.
Marsha
and yes, i suppose i didn’t consider dose being so spent at 1 am. will get
through ok…just have to d the paranoid thing cause that’s the way my brain
is comfortable.
jodi
Jodi,
don’t take insulin because of a really bad reaction to it, but I have read
about it a lot and Bernstein (Diabetes Solution) wrote exactly the same
thing - that people are far better controlled on multiple doses through the
day rather than a 24 hour shot.
Why put you on something that is so hard to control? Can he put you back
on your other types of insulin which are easier to control during this
adjustment period? Since most everyone on here is on or has been on insulin
with Byetta it is sort of a given that they are safe to use together, we
just have to be careful of the interaction that could cause a hypo.
Remember the recent discussion about the half-life of byetta. If you are
using it at 5 p.m. then assuming a half-life of 2.4 hours you’d have about
14% of the original byetta injection in your body at 1 a.m. and that is
probably insufficient to do much. It certainly is the case for me during
the evening as I still have dawn effect issues. (grump)
Cheers!
Marsha
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Anything posted in this group is the opinion of the person who posted it.
Visit your group "Diabetes_And_Byetta" on the web.
———————————
March 28th, 2004 at 10:09 am
roy i thought abut switching the lantus to twice a day but honestly
chickened out because i was uneasy (once again) about how to make the
change. a friend on another list suggested a gradual reduction and split
over the course of a few days but i knew that would be too many things to
remember for me. life is really busy for me this year!
jodi
You probably did have better control. For me, the opposite was true. I was
on Lantus, then switched to 70/30 to try to get better control and ended
up
all over the place. When I went back onto Lantus, things settled back down
and I was able to make discreet changes to diet and activity knowing that
insulin wasn’t a variable. I am now only taking 30u of Lantus once a day
instead of twice. So for me, the 24 hour nature of Lantus was a good
thing.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
March 29th, 2004 at 3:49 am
Jess,
I gotta tell ya that I think it is PHENOMENAL that you are a type 1 using Byetta
to rebuild your beta cells. Whether you are an atypical type 1 or not this is
SO hopeful for type 1’s that have ANY beta cell function left.
You’re right, they drug companies would be under the gun in terms of liability
for saying too much and certainly the people on the other end of the phone are
no experts - they read from manuals, I’m sure.
But, the bottom line is that virtually everyone who is on byetta came there from
needing insulin first and being on insulin to start with. The wonder of it is
how much better we get so fast! March 22nd I was still running in the high
200’s at times and that was on a totally draconian low-carb diet … well, I’m
still on a pretty draconian low-carb diet, but that’s beside the point (smile).
My BG fell a good 100 points in the first few days. After I started the 10 mcg
ten it fell most of the rest of the way. Not there yet, but it’s coming.
I hope you keep us posted on your news - the good and the set-backs. We all
learn a great deal from setbacks - especially if they are shared.
I know that my puzzlement over my weight loss led me back to keeping a less
complete glucograph to spare the doctor from wading through all the data and I
realized that I might have lost control over my intake and attention to physical
activity. So, back to writing down every mouthful. Today I have even
experienced inappropriate hunger so I will be taking a hoodia to help deal with
it. I also realized that when I started the 10 mcg I got the tireds again and
started wimping out on exercise. Started again today, gently so as to be kind
to myself.
I will do this. So will you!
Cheers!
Marsha
March 30th, 2004 at 3:27 am
my doctor switched me from lantus to Levemir. it is a
basal insulin but the literature says it can be taken
once or twice day. it is also supposedly not
associated with weight gain. something to consider
March 30th, 2004 at 5:09 am
i am starting the spit in the morning it’s the lantus i take at 5 pm tonight
that i will lower. even though i should shoot humalog at dinner i don’t do
it anymore. reason is that i go so low at night (normal number not too low)
that i just can’t see how i would stay good if i added humalog again. and
yes, i need to stick to low carb and quit sneaking chips and things at
night. hopefully, the spit will keep the boredom hunger at bay.
jodi
Why not start in the morning rather than the evening if you’re not sure
how
you’re going to react?
My background insulin needs haven’t changed at all since byetta (so far),
it’s only my mealtime insulin needs that have changed. YMMV of course.
I”m
actually experimenting today with lowering my background insulin (I use a
pump)
by 15 % to see what happens.
I used byetta first at dinner, didn’t lower my dinner insulin, went quite
low within 2 hours, got BG back up, and was fine. Fasting numbers did
start to
come down.
Stacey
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
March 30th, 2004 at 9:27 am
makes sense!
jodi
So they can’t say Sure we think it’s safe! cuz if you have
a reaction…..they’re thinking lawsuit. So they have to wait till
all their studies are done and they get the ok to have it be indicated
for t1’s/ insulin dependents as well.
~Jess
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
March 30th, 2004 at 7:11 pm
Jess, I’ve been taking Byetta and insulin from the get-go. I know it’s
"off label," but that’s between my doctor and me. It was the best
decision we made as a team. <s>
April 1st, 2004 at 12:08 am
i will keep that in mind if need be.
jodi
my doctor switched me from lantus to Levemir. it is a
basal insulin but the literature says it can be taken
once or twice day. it is also supposedly not
associated with weight gain. something to consider
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
April 27th, 2004 at 7:46 am
Jess:
I’m a Type 1 of 20 years, on a pump, and on Byetta, and what do you
know, I’m alive to tell about it. About 5 to 7 years ago, I started
developing insulin resistance and watched my dose head to the stars,
and as I chased the numbers, I started adding about 8 lbs a year on,
which just kept adding to the misery. Saw my doctor a week ago and
suggested that maybe I needed to add avandia to my meds for the
resistance. I’m also hitting the gym hard 3 times a week and I eat
a carb restricted diet, but no weight loss. He told me that at
every diabetic conference he has attended, they hype how great this
drug is or a better technic for tight control. So he always asks
the question, what about weight control? Higher levels of insulin
prevent the body from metabolizing fat. High levels of insulin
signal high levels of glucose. He told me he has over 50 patients
on Byetta with very good results. Because Byetta slows digestion
and blocks glucose release from the liver, even we Type 1’s win in
that we need less rapid acting to cover highs. Lower circulating
levels of insulin allows the body to use fat for energy. I’ve used
Byetta for 10 days now and dropped insulin by 25% during the day.
I’m still fighting some lows and will be cutting my dosage of
Novolog. Expecially my basal rates. I’ll be interested to see if I
drop down to the levels of insulin I used back in my twenties. I’m
also interested to see what my experience will be when I graduate to
10 mcg pens. So far no really overt nausea, but boy do I feel full
on a third of the food I used to eat. I haven’t checked my weight
yet as I want a little more time to go past before I check.
We’ll see.
Bob
April 27th, 2004 at 12:04 pm
Stacy:
I just started Byetta 10 days ago and between basal and bolus, I’ve
reduced my dosages by about 25%, but I’m still having lows. Not the
harsh lows, but just around 69 to 71. My goal is to loose about 35
lbs, and reduce my insulin resistance. I was really frustrated that
my insulin usage kept climbing, resulting in greater resistance so
higher blood sugars and the more weight and higher insulin levels
also contributed to difficulty loosing weight as well. Since going
on Byetta, my blood sugar levels have been great other than the
lows. I’ll just have to see where all of this takes me.
Regards,
Bob
April 27th, 2004 at 4:22 pm
Levemir is made by Novo Nordisk and is their long acting insulin
that is very similar in function to Lantus which is manufactured by
Eli Lilly. Both should have very similar actions. It’s like
Novolog and Humalog. Both very similar which some veriation in
action.
Regards
Bob
April 28th, 2004 at 11:50 am
Eli Lilly…yayyyyyyyy!!! Made in Indiana!
Levemir is made by Novo Nordisk and is their long acting insulin that is
very similar in function to Lantus which is manufactured by Eli Lilly. Both
should have very similar actions. It’s like Novolog and Humalog. Both very
similar which some veriation in action.
Regards
Bob
–
No virus found in this incoming message.
April 30th, 2004 at 8:22 pm
this is true. my doctor switched me because it isn’t
supposed to be associated with weight gain. and just
like some are more responsive to novolog than humolog
and vice versa, i do better on the levemir. i was
taking 60 of lantus and only 10 of levemir. i guess it
is a YMMV sort of thing
May 8th, 2004 at 6:54 pm
Hi Stacy:
Great to hear from a fellow pumper. I love my pump. No having to
get up and eat at a certain times every day. Have lunch at a
certain time. Snack at a certain time, just to feed the insulin and
keep my blood sugars in line. So far, I doing okay on the Byetta
with only mild nausea. I let myself go the past 4 years and gained
about 35 pounds which I’m now working to loose. I used to be very
involved at a diabetic camp outside Columbia, Mo that used to keep
me in shape. The past 4 years, I turned into a lazy couch potatoe
and gained 35 lbs and that I hate dragging around, so I’m working it
off at the gym 3 times a week. I also work a sedentary job. I’m a
computer and network analyse and don’t stay as active as I like.
I’ve been insulin dependent 20 years this June 7th. I’ve worked
very hard to maintain good blood sugars since the very beginning.
Only 4 A1c’s over 7.0 over the past 20 years. But starting about 6
to 7 years ago, I began struggling with blood sugars and watched my
insulin usage start going up and up up.
Theres a boomerag effect with high levels of insulin. The body is
tricked into thinking that there is high levels of glucose in the
blood which there is, and the body stops burning fat for energy, and
instead just stores more and more fat which is the sad reason
Americans are getting so fat. It’s very frustrating for people who
half starve themselves and still can’t loose weight. The reason
people loose weight with Byetta is because it lowers blood sugar by
stoppping the liver from releasing glucose and it also works on a
cellular level to decrease insulin resistance so we loose weight, or
at least I hope so. I am blessed with a very intelligent doctor who
works with his patients rather than dictates to them. He’s just
great and when I suggested Avandia for insulin resistance, he
suggested Byetta. He said he has over 50 patients on Byetta with
some pretty good results. I’m always going to be diabetic and I’ve
always felt that it was the best thing that ever happened to me. It
was my wake up call to take better care of myself. And as we used
to say at Diabetic Camp, we are athe chosen ones. We used to make
non (diabetic) jokes all the time. We got to tease the Nons about
having non moments. Anyway, I’ve rambled on long enough. Good
night Stacy
Regards
Bob