Doctor Visit
Hi! I just got done with my doctor visit. I have been on
Byetta for one month, and he is switching me to the "10." I lost no weight at
all, and didn’t really feel any effects of the "5." I didn’t gain weight either,
just stayed the same.
They did my full bloodwork last time, so I asked what my A1C was, since it was
my first time having that done. It was 7.1! I thought that was pretty good for
starting out, because i don’t have too far to go to get good numbers. That
bloodwork was for the two months prior to diagnosis and one month after
diagnosis, since it is a three month measurement - right?
Unfortunately my blood pressure was still too high, so he added another med for
that. Other than for a blood pressure check, I don’t go back for three months.
Yeah! I was kind of depressed before I went, but now I feel that things aren’t
as bad as?I thought. I asked about my morning BG being high (130-140) when the
rest of the readings are much better. I felt like I was doing something wrong.
He told me that they will start to come down as I lose weight and there’s
nothing I can do other than that to get them where they should be. He said it
was due to excess hormones from being overweight, and the long overnight stretch
made the BG increase. So I can stop feeling like a failure, and just do
something about my weight. Hopefully the increase in the byetta will help with
that.
May 13th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Just to clarify, I go back in tow weeks for the blood pressure check, but three
months for my next doctor visit. I have
bloodwork done (including a1c) two weeks prior to the visit to make sure he has
the results when I get there.
Also, I’m sure he’s aware of Lantus. I think he meant there wasn’t anything I
could do to get better AM numbers just through what I ate or didn’t eat before
bed. Basically it was a hormone problem, not what I was eating. I don’t think he
wants to add another med until he sees what I can do weight-wise first. He said
the AM numbers will come back in line as I lose weight. I’m glad he didn’t just
add more meds, as I am up to four things already, including the two for blood
pressure. I hate taking pills, and the Byetta shots were almost too much for me
to stand.
Cindy
There are 8 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
3. my new a1c
From: Ramona
Messages
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Hi! I just got done with my doctor visit. I have been on
Byetta for one month, and he is switching me to the "10." I lost no weight at
all, and didn’t really feel any effects of the "5." I didn’t gain weight either,
just stayed the same.
They did my full bloodwork last time, so I asked what my A1C was, since it was
my first time having that done. It was 7.1! I thought that was pretty good for
starting out, because i don’t have too far to go to get good numbers. That
bloodwork was for the two months prior to diagnosis and one month after
diagnosis, since it is a three month measurement - right?
Unfortunately my blood pressure was still too high, so he added another med for
that. Other than for a blood pressure check, I don’t go back for three months.
Yeah! I was kind of depressed before I went, but now I feel that things aren’t
as bad as?I thought. I asked about my morning BG being high (130-140) when the
rest of the readings are much better. I felt like I was doing something wrong.
He told me that they will start to come down as I lose weight and there’s
nothing I can do other than that to get them where they should be. He said it
was due to excess hormones from being overweight, and the long overnight stretch
made the BG increase. So I can stop feeling like a failure, and just do
something about my weight. Hopefully the increase in the byetta will help with
that.
Thanks for being here!
Cindy
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Messages in this topic (4)
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Cindy –
Actually there is something that can be done medically about high
morning readings (aka the Dawn Phenomenon). Losing weight etc is
the first line of defense, but not everyone is good at doing that.
What worked for me was adding a bedtime dose of Lantus, a 24-hour-
acting insulin. Yes, it may increase weight a little (not like old
fashioned insulin), but the extra appetite wanes eventually.
Unlike old-fashioned short-term insulin, you don’t have to carefully
count carbs at each meal. You start with a low dose of Lantus
nightly and increase the dose slightly till you’re dawn readings
come back to around 100. Lantus is available in an injection pen
with adjustable dose. You get the pen device free from your doc
(who gets it from the Sanofi sales rep) and you get cartridges of
the stuff from your pharmacy with a prescription. If your doc isn’t
aware of Lantus, he ought to be.
Gary
Gary
Messages in this topic (4)
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You go back in 3 months just for a blood pressure check? Aren’t they
going to do another A1c? If not, I suggest you ask for it.
Andrew
Messages in this topic (4)
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Gary, are you still on Byetta. I don’t remember. Glad to see you are
still here.
Andrew
Messages in this topic (4)
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Hi, folks. I was on Byetta in the fall, Sept-Nov 2006. I felt like
it wasn’t doing anything for me: no appetite suppression, no
weightloss, no affect on my A1C. So I stopped taking it. Three
months later my A1C had gone up a little, & my doc recommended that I
start Byetta again, & I complied. The second time around I feel like
the Byetta is more effective! I do think I get some of the appetite
suppression, and I’ve lost 25 lbs since New Year’s. I’ve been doing
Weight Watchers pretty faithfully, but I think the Byetta must be
helping me a stick with it at least a little. And my blood sugars
have been improving (thanks also to increased exercise).
I do hope someday there’s a once-a-day version of Byetta, but until
then I think I can live with the 2x/day regimen.
Messages in this topic (3)
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The second time around I feel like
the Byetta is more effective! I do think I get some of the appetite
suppression, and I’ve lost 25 lbs since New Year’s. I’ve been doing
Weight Watchers pretty faithfully, but I think the Byetta must be
helping me a stick with it at least
****I’ve been doing the weight watcher’s Core Program and also find I have
no problem staying on it. I’m very grateful that I can manage the Byetta and
even the headache I was getting the first few days has gone away. I have
diabetes for thirty years and the neuropathy in my feet was starting to climb
into my ankles and calves because I couldn’t keep my sugar under very good
control anymore. I was taking ten units of Humalog before each meal and forty
Lantus at night and my numbers were still over 200 most mornings. So without
seeming overly dramatic I think this is a life saver for me. My sugar has
dropped after only four days and although, I don’t expect to lose weight
without
trying, I am a able to eat small portions and stop when I am full. With all
that insulin, I always felt hungry and I couldn’t lose weight even when I
stayed on program. I’m hoping when the time comes, I’ll be able to manage the
10
mg as well as this. I feel extremely grateful for this medication.
Suzanne
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Messages in this topic (3)
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Way to go on the second time around. Is Byetta the only change this
time?
Andrew
Messages in this topic (3)
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i had my new a1c done today… wowowowow… i am sooooooo happy…..
and gave me a hug….
have a blessed night
in march my a1c was 380… which was about 11.5 ……
now it is down to 5.4………. about 120-140….
wooooooooohoooooooooooo…
i am relieved…
i am trying hard.. still takin byetta,metformin, and lantus… but i did talk
to my nurse about longer needles since i have to give my shots in my
stomach..coz i had a blood clot years ago so not using my legs or arms.. since
my belly is where most of my weight is.. we are gonna try longer needles.. for
two weeks.. and see how that goes.. the goal is to try and stop the lantus .. so
i can lose more..
but anyway .. i had to share with someone who knows what i am talkin about….
my nurse was telling everyone..
oh and i lost 7 lbs in two weeks… and i have been walkin 2 miles every other
day ..
Ramona
test’; ">
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