November 4, 2009
What Does the Diabetes Drug Byetta and the Gila Monster Have in Common with Causes Weight Loss?
There are many people with Type 2 Diabetes that currently utilize the drug Byetta marketed by Eli Lilly and Amylin. The active ingredient in Byetta is a synthetic version of a protein produced in the saliva of the Gila Monster. More than just help with diabetes, researchers have just released findings for another positive benefit Byetta offers…weight loss.
At the annual American Diabetes Association conference this week, researchers presented the findings of a 3 year 200 person study that was conducted on Byetta. The findings showed that Byetta causes weight loss as well as control of diabetes.
“Well, it’s weird. You have to wonder how you can go from Gila monster saliva to something that works in humans,” said Sandra Leal, a pharmacist and diabetes expert at El Rio Community Health Center.
The average weight loss was described as modest only totaling about 11 pounds per patient but most of the weight loss occurred in the first year which is great. Since obesity and type 2 diabetes often go hand in hand additional weight loss is a definite benefit to any patient taking Byetta.
The weight loss caused by Byetta can be contributed to two major factors. The first being that Byetta slows the rate at which the stomach empties causing the patient to feel satisfied longer after each meal. The second factor is that it interacts with the part of the brain that is responsible for the sensation of being full. Both of those things would aide in a patient trying to lose weight.
As most of us may know, diet and exercise are both very important in controlling diabetes. If you are on a diabetes friendly diet and are getting your exercise you are doing your part in the battle against diabetes and you should be very proud of yourself.
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- Saliva Helping Diabetes Patients Control Weight
- How Byetta Helped My Out of Control Diabetes
- FDA Warning On Byetta – Is It Safe?
- Even A Small Weight Loss Benefits Type 2 Diabetes
Jeanne
October 16, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I have been on Byetta for 3 years and lost 51 pounds in a year. I kept the weight off with no effort until a few months ago. The weight is starting to creep back up. I have gained probably 10-15 lbs in six months. The effects of byetta seem to be waring off. Has anyone else experienced this?
Sharon Conaway
October 17, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Hi, Jeanne,
I’m so, so sorry to hear about your weight gain, the nightmare of any of us who’re on Byetta or another weight-loss drug for our diabetes. It would seem there’s no magic bullet for weight loss yet as far as keeping it off goes. Will have to see what the liraglutide I wrote here about in my Oct. 15th posting brings when it comes out next year. It’s no secret that a lot of different drugs have the same problem – the body builds up such a tolerance to them that they lose their punch/efficacy. Thus, drugs do sometimes have to be changed periodically. It varies from person to person.
What happened with me which I did write about earlier is I went from 5 mcg. twice a day to 10 mcg. once a day because the appetite-suppressing effect wore off and with that I hit a plateau with the weight loss. After I went up to the 10 mcg. once a day, I lost more weight. Now what’s happening is I’m at another plateau. The Byetta still has drastically reduced my appetite to where I can’t eat nearly as much as I used to and I don’t have those uncontrollable cravings, but I am worried, too, that it will get to the point where it’ll lose its effectiveness. I asked my doctor over the phone if I could just take another shot to loose more weight but she said no. She wants me to walk/exercise. I will have to talk with her more about this when I see her. Am not gaining weight yet, but I’m no longer losing, either. I weigh myself every day. I know weight fluctuations of a few pounds are normal, but if I see it go up a bit too much, I try to cut down. I’ve been on Byetta since the end of last year.
Funny, isn’t it? Byetta at 5 mcg. twice a day made me so very sick during the two month adjustment period, so I was told to take the 5 once a day until I got used to it – and now here I am taking the 10 and it’s almost like taking nothing. Been so happy with my weight loss I even went out and bought some new clothes, so I do hope it’s not all for nothing. Nothing in life is easy; and for those of us with a weight problem, it’s such a struggle, isn’t it? Please, Jeanne, see what your doctor can do for you before you gain it all back.
I, too, would like to know if there’s anyone else out there who has experienced either a weight gain from Byetta’s loss of effectiveness after having been on it a while or who has the fear of weight gain happening in the near future because it is losing it’s punch for them. I mean, just how much Byetta can a person be expected to keep taking in order to retain the weight loss or lose more? We fatties were so excited about our weight losses when we first started the Byetta. I know I was – and I expressed that here – since there was no other way I could lose the weight – and now this fear that it might be wearing off. Very discouraging, really. If I can stay where I am right now, I’ll be happy with that, but God forbid I should start gaining again.
Daniela Lace
October 20, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Hello to all Diabetics!
On the Byetta effect, efficiency and cost, but first, a brief (but important) history about myself!
ABOUT ME & DIABETES: I am currently 37 years old and a Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetic since I was two, so 35 years of diabetes well lived! Thus far Ive seen and experimented with various types of treatments, from once a day bovine N-type insulin to multiple-doses thru the pump; depending on what was available in the country I was living in at the time.
My diabetes has never been easy to manage, with glucose readings often varying radically, even when doing things by the book. Despite the apparent chaos, I have fortunately avoided all complications up to now.
Weight control was never a real issue except for the lack of habit of exercising, always on and off, until six years ago when I developed Thyroid problems (hypothyroidism).
PERSPECTIVE PAUSE > I am about 5′4 (1 meter 64ish) and my projected ideal weight suggested by doctors is 138.6 (63 kilos). After hypothyroidism and within the course of these six years I gradually gained more weight, going to almost 176 pounds (80 kilos) and then, very gradually, down to 158 pounds (72 kilos) where I have stayed with budging for two years give and take.
I am currently living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Byetta has only been here since March of this year (2008). My doctor (He himself a diabetic for over 70 years) introduced me to Byetta in September.
ABOUT BYETTA: My first trial with Byetta was during a period of 20 days, 5 mcg twice a day. Initially it was supposed to be three times a day, but I didnt adapt too well in the first week. I had severe stomach pains which were not customary and often three or more hours after taking the shot, which as far as I can tell was nothing like anything anyone has ever described. I stuck with it, however, and to my wondrous delight, I saw a 0.5 decrease in my A1c reading in this 20 day period and I also dropped 6.6 pounds (3 kilos) in this period!
The bad feeling in my stomach has also gone away!
Despite the outrageous cost of this medication (R$371,00 Reais = close U$177.00) per pen (I am currently using one pen a month, but my doctor said he might increase it to three times a day, depending on the results), I will continue with the use of Byetta for as long as I can afford it.
Aside from Byetta I take the medication for the hypothyroidism, human/aspart and glargine insulins, and losartin potassium hydrochloride for blood pressure.
Hope this serves as reference to someone out there looking for things in perspective!
Pleasure to be here reading all the posts!
Stephanie
November 12, 2008 at 3:54 pm
as of the 10/16 posting I have been taking nothing. Today received first shipment of Diatroxal. Will try it for 30 days to see if it will help me. After the rise in glucose and lack of weight loss on Byetta, I just felt it was not right for me. I have just heard about this product Diatroxal. For 100% of double blind test subjects it has worked and shows promise to not only control glucose levels but also lower cholesteral and tryglicerides.
Hoping this will work for me. Would love to gain control of sugar and stay off statins if possible.
Wish me luck.
Brynda Howell
January 25, 2009 at 11:38 am
I have been on 1000mg BID Metformin and 10mcg Byetta BID for
about 2 yrs…I have lost approx 70lbs…went from 44BMI to 32BMI.
I started with 5mcg and had severe nausea/vomiting for about 2 weeks, it leveled out and have had a steady weightloss ever since. I eat pretty much what I want to…I don’t want fried hardly at all…I’m not much of an exerciser but I am in EMS so I do lift, etc alot. This drug saved my life as far as I’m concerned.
Ann Bolton
May 27, 2009 at 12:59 pm
I have been on Byetta for a year now and have lost a total of 48 pounds. I can not tell you how happy this as made me and my doctor. I take 5mg twice a day. I did weight 284 and 2 pounds to make it 50. I don’t want to ever be back up that high in my weight. I feel better, clothes are three sizes smaller. I sure hope that Byetta doesn’t stop. I will not mind being this weight, although it would be great if I could get closer to 200 or below that and stay at that weight since I am 60 years old. My main thing I don’t like about Byetta is the cost and the fact that my insurance doesn’t cover the cost. The makers have not even offer coupons to help with the cost, which would be very nice. Ann
Elmer Fittery
June 1, 2009 at 9:03 am
I was on Byetta for about 1.5 years. Lost a total of 80 lbs.
Now I am off because it stopped controlling my blood sugars.
Also, I stopped loosing weight and am stuck around 245 (down from 325).
Recently I noticed something at Wikipedia.com that stated that obesity was not correlated with diabetes. This got my attention!
Anyhow, the article can be found by going to http://www.wikipedia.com and searching for “persistent organic pollutants”.
Now use “edit->search” and put in diabetes.
It states: Among study participants, obesity was associated with diabetes only in people who tested high for these pollutants.
The article “Is ?” is found in the NewScientist.
You can find it by doing a google search on:
NewScientist and “Could the diabetes epidemic be down to pollution”
Hum….. I wonder if byetta somehow protects one from POPs – “Persistent Organic Pollutants”.
Good luck everybody!
Sharon Conaway
June 2, 2009 at 9:22 pm
What Elmer Fittery wrote above prompted me to post this comment. I, too, am off the Byetta after having been on it for about one and a 1/2 years. If you read some of my more recent earlier comments, I was saying how the effect of the Byetta was wearing off vis a vis controlling my appetite. I lost about 30 lbs. on the Byetta and have gained back about 20 of them. I was taking 10 mg. x 2. The doctor finally decided to take me off it and put me on a combination drug called Genumet, which is Januvia and Metformin in one pill. I’ve been taking Metformin all along since I was first diagnosed with diabetes back in 1992. Then my doctor had me on Avandamet until Avandia was discredited.
I was so happy when I lost all that weight and was so apprehensive when it started to pile back on. No magic bullet yet, folks, but we can keep hoping. I wonder, though, if more and more people on Byetta will be finding the same thing happening to them – that the drug loses it’s kick.
Joyce Bailey
June 19, 2009 at 7:26 am
Hi, I Went to see me diabetic nurse today who recommended I start using byetta as my sugar levels are not being controlled by metformin and glyklazide that I am taking. I read with horror that this drug can cause pancreatitis and has even caused death. I am very worried about starting it now, can anyone offer me any advice please.
Teresa Bates
July 3, 2009 at 5:24 am
My problem with Byetta is even with insurance my copay is close to 50.00 a month and this day and age I just cant afford it, sure they have help for no insurance and i have been on the copay.org website the alst 6 months and have been told I am sorry but we’ve been allocated for the month, I hve no other choice but to ask my doc to take me off. my next checkup is 7/07/09…and forget trying to get samples from a rep from Lily or amblin, Its a waste of time.also the costs of test strips are riduculous……that is my dilemma.Thanks for listening.I wish my drug came from AstraSenca. I work for a local hospital and those reps are there for their patients….
mary-jean
December 1, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I just read this article comparing type 2 diabetes drugs Avadia and Actos. Which one is harmful? Here’s the article if anyone wants to read more. http://www.orderonlinedrugs.com/drug-news/2009/08/19/researchers-claim-avadia-type-2-diabetes-treatment-is-less-safe-than-actos/
How Byetta Helped My Out of Control Diabetes
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