questions about byetta implementation

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Permalink Reply by Sheila M. on August 28, 2008 at 4:01pm

Lisa, the reason you are instructed to inject prior to eating is related to the way the Byetta works. It slows down the digestion of the food you eat. If you take medications in the morning, you should wait at least an hour before using your Byetta. That way your medications are not affected by the slower emptying of the stomach. That is why some people feel full before finishing their meal. It is this effect that has led to weight loss in some. Preferably the injections are taken prior to the two larger meals of the day. For most people that is breakfast and dinner. I haven't seen any information come through regarding Byetta and specific BGL's. You may want to discuss this with your CDE or endo.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on August 28, 2008 at 9:48pm

yes yes... I understand this, but maybe I wasn't clear; I am wondering, what will happen to a person if they "accidentally" take their Byetta after food? Will they become ill? or will the medication simply be ineffective, based on how it works. I am just wanting to know if there are any negative physical manifestations that occur as a result of taking Byetta at the wrong time.

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Permalink Reply by debb on September 5, 2008 at 2:40pm

lisa,
as far as i know the only thing it does is not curb your appetite for the meal you just ate. it still works on helping control your sugar. i use byetta but it hasn't helped me with how much i eat. the doctor is leaving me on it because it's helping my sugar and because i have filled out paperwork requesting a gastric bypass. we both feel that that is the only way to handle my particular problem.
you won't become anymore ill then you ever have while taking it. because i don't eat very much breakfast, i use it at lunch and dinner. i have to wait the full hour before eating. if i take the shot and then don't eat i get an upset stomach.
i hope this helped.

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Permalink Reply by Michele McWilliams on September 7, 2009 at 3:30am

I've taken it after a meal...it doesn't make you sick...it just isn't really effective because of the way it works in your system. But when I did it after a meal, I have a snack about 1/2 hr to an hr later, and then my sugars go down.

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Permalink Reply by Donna Corbitt on September 4, 2008 at 5:30pm

I have so many questions like you have mentioned. I read that you are to inject 1/2 hour to an hour BEFORE you eat so that it makes the pancreas produce the insulin and makes it stay in the stomache longer so you don't have the spikes.... or so I get out of it.
I am wondering if anyone else is using the Metformin also with their byetta?
Using the Byetta alone, I found that when I wake up in the morning, and test before breakfast and taking my meds... that my levels are higher than when I use the metformin.
I'm going to the hospital to ask the diabetes trainers, the what, why and how does this all work, and when it is best to test to get the real readings to chart.
Also....does anyone use the computer program and the cable to download from the meter?
I really don't understand why they have this feature and no one that I have talked to has ever had anyone download the numbers from the meter.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on October 17, 2008 at 11:47pm

Donna,

I continued to have high morning readings, even after moving to the 2x daily 10 mg byetta dose (20mg daily). My endo is now having me do a 5 mg shot before bedtime, to help with that. I continue to take Metformin (1500 daily), one tab at each meal.

Thanks to all who explained what happens (or doesn't happen), if one accidentally takes Byetta "after" they eat. My endo finally clarified that I can take Byetta as long as it's been at least an hour to hour/and a half since I've eaten anything.

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