Byetta Update

After eleven months the results are in. Eleven months later, Byetta is meeting expectations for better glucose control and weight loss in Type 2 Diabetics. While you may have read that Byetta can cause low blood sugar episodes (hypoglycemia) the patient population is reporting this side effect in small numbers. To date, Byetta is giving patients better blood sugar control (indicated by CGMS Values) and is still less likely to cause low blood sugar when compared to insulin. Approximately 20% of patients report Byetta cause them to feel nausea. For some of them, it subsides, but for others, the side effect of nausea will persist, making Byetta a poor choice for them. The majority of patients are losing weight and when the scale does not indicate it, measurements indicate they are losing inches. Many of the patients report having more energy and strength than they have had in years. Another benefit of this weight loss is that it reduces risks of other diabetic complications (high blood pressure, blindness, neuropathy, kidney failure, etc.) contributing to overall well-being.

Other versions of Byetta are currently being tested, including one to be used only once a week, a nice contrast to the current twice daily injection.

Source: Amylin pharmaceuticals

From the EMMC clinic in California comes these expectations from their patients after 1-2 and 3 months usage.

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DID YOU KNOW:
Two-thirds of U.S. Adults Consider Themselves to be Healthy Eaters: A new survey by Harris Interactive® reveals that almost two-thirds (64%) of U.S. adults consider themselves healthy eaters and almost half (45%) say they follow some type of health-conscious diet. Furthermore, substantial numbers say they try to incorporate healthy foods into their daily meals and snacks. While a majority of all adults consider themselves to be healthy eaters and many follow healthy diets, some groups are more likely than others to say or do these things. Three-quarters (75%) of adults aged 55 and over consider themselves to be healthy eaters, while less than half (47%) of those aged 18 to 34 would say the same. Adults with incomes over $75,000 are most likely to consider themselves to be healthy eaters (74%). Adults with college experience (23% of those with some college experience and 28% of those with a college degree or more) are much more likely than those with a high school education or less (12%) to say their typical diet can best be described as a "balanced diet."