1. Use Byetta for Type 2 Diabetes
Byetta is an injectable medication that controls the glucose, or blood sugar, level in adults that have type 2 diabetes. It is the first medication in a class called incretin mimetics. People that take the diabetes medications metformin, sulfonylurea or thiazolidinedione are able to take Byetta. The medication comes inside a prefilled pen with fixed dose. Byetta helps the body function as it normally would by signaling the pancreas to produce the proper amount of insulin when the body needs it. It also stops the liver from making too much glucose.
2. Inject On Time or Skip It
Give yourself your Byetta injection two times per day within 60 minutes before your breakfast and dinner meals. Injection sites include the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. You should never use your Byetta after you have already eaten. If you forget to take a dose, skip it. Never double up your medication at the next meal or take it at times other then prescribed. If you are not eating a meal, do not take your injection.
3. Mild to Moderate Side Effects May Occur
There are many people taking Byetta that experience little or no side effects at all. The side effects that are associated with this drug include mild to moderate nausea, vomiting, low blood sugar, headache, diarrhea, rash, hives, stomach discomfort and nervousness. Those taking Byetta may also experience acid reflux, increased sweating and loss of appetite. If you experience an allergic reaction or have any swelling or difficulty swallowing, contact a doctor right away. There have been a few reported cases of acute pancreatitis that may be associated with taking this medication. Anyone that develops a persistent and severe pain in the abdomen should get medical help immediately. Most often side effects disappear over time.
4. Works for Weight Loss But...
For many people taking Byetta, one of the side effects is weight loss. Those that lost the most weight were also on the diabetes drug metformin. Overall, the weight loss results vary greatly. Yet there are many people that want to take Byetta as a drug for weight loss that do not have type 2 diabetes. If you do not have type 2 diabetes, you should not take Byetta.
5. Byetta Mimicks Hormones
Byetta works by mimicking the incretin hormones in the body. This causes the body to increase the production of insulin in response to the food that the person eats. At the same time, it decreases the glucose amounts that the liver produces. Byetta also reduces the amount of food that a person eats at a meal because it slows down the body's process of emptying the stomach.
