Comments on: [[Diabetes_And_Byetta] update on success of Byetta… A1C results http://www.diabetes-blog.wichy-girl.com/2007/04/01/diabetes-and-byetta-update-on-success-of-byetta-a1c-results/ Byetta is an Incretin Mimetic, blog for diabetics! Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:28:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Neva Marjory http://www.diabetes-blog.wichy-girl.com/2007/04/01/diabetes-and-byetta-update-on-success-of-byetta-a1c-results/#comment-24769 Neva Marjory Sun, 01 Apr 2007 09:23:35 +0000 http://www.diabetes-blog.wichy-girl.com/2007/04/01/diabetes-and-byetta-update-on-success-of-byetta-a1c-results/#comment-24769 good for you.............baz [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] good for you………….baz

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]]> By: Gonzalo Felisa http://www.diabetes-blog.wichy-girl.com/2007/04/01/diabetes-and-byetta-update-on-success-of-byetta-a1c-results/#comment-24768 Gonzalo Felisa Sun, 01 Apr 2007 07:49:26 +0000 http://www.diabetes-blog.wichy-girl.com/2007/04/01/diabetes-and-byetta-update-on-success-of-byetta-a1c-results/#comment-24768 Wow Gary...thanks so much for helping explain it better for us. I think I always associated weight gain with insulin, but like I mentioned in my last post...I'm only recalling things from years back that folks used to have to deal with and so I really had so little current info on it, ignorance on a topic often can lead to fear & avoidance at times, such was the case with me on insulin. Really, thanks so much for helping me learn a bit more about it, (I'm much more in my comfort zone now) and opening my eyes more to all we have out there when we need it. :) A year ago, my HA1c started slipping (to 7.5), despite being on Byetta and metformin. So I reluctantly took my doc's advice and started on Lantus, a form of insulin taken once daily at bed time. It supposedly is active for 24 hours at a constant level of <!--more--> effectiveness. My major problem was dawn effect, with pre-breakfast numbers as high as 170, which had a substantial effect on my HA1c. Lantus has caused some weight gain, no more than 5 lbs, not the 20+ lbs reported using regular short-acting insulin before meals. I self-titrated the Lantus (starting at 18 units/night, up to 46) until the pre-breakfast number was around 100 (typically 85--120). And my HA1c has come down to 6.5. Insulin is not a last-resort thing to be feared; since the disease is progressive, if we want to stay in control eventually we will all need insulin. My appetite was uncontrollable at first, but it's stabilized. I continue on metformin and Byetta. Bottom line: if it's necessary, don't fear insulin. Lantus (and its competitor Detemir) don't require careful calculation of carb intakes vs dose, have only small effect on weight, and may help hugely on HA1c. Just my two cents. Gary Wow Gary…thanks so much for helping explain it better for us. I think I
always associated weight gain with insulin, but like I mentioned in my last
post…I’m only recalling things from years back that folks used to have to deal
with and so I really had so little current info on it, ignorance on a topic
often can lead to fear & avoidance at times, such was the case with me on
insulin.

Really, thanks so much for helping me learn a bit more about it, (I’m much more
in my comfort zone now) and opening my eyes more to all we have out there when
we need it. :)
A year ago, my HA1c started slipping (to 7.5), despite being on
Byetta and metformin. So I reluctantly took my doc’s advice and
started on Lantus, a form of insulin taken once daily at bed time.
It supposedly is active for 24 hours at a constant level of

effectiveness. My major problem was dawn effect, with pre-breakfast
numbers as high as 170, which had a substantial effect on my HA1c.

Lantus has caused some weight gain, no more than 5 lbs, not the 20+
lbs reported using regular short-acting insulin before meals. I
self-titrated the Lantus (starting at 18 units/night, up to 46)
until the pre-breakfast number was around 100 (typically 85–120).
And my HA1c has come down to 6.5. Insulin is not a last-resort
thing to be feared; since the disease is progressive, if we want to
stay in control eventually we will all need insulin. My appetite
was uncontrollable at first, but it’s stabilized. I continue on
metformin and Byetta.

Bottom line: if it’s necessary, don’t fear insulin. Lantus (and its
competitor Detemir) don’t require careful calculation of carb
intakes vs dose, have only small effect on weight, and may help
hugely on HA1c.

Just my two cents.
Gary

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