Is BYETTA The Answer For Type 2 Diabetics?

Type 2 diabetics now have another choice when it comes to their treatment. Along with the multiple choices of oral medication, a new injectable drug is now FDA approved and being prescribed. Being a type 2 diabetic myself, I can honestly say I would not be interested in another needle or two throughout the day. My fingers will thank me later! But for some diabetics, BYEETA has been the answer to their disease happiness.

• Patients receiving BYETTA achieved a significant A1C reduction of 1.2% at Week 30 and 1.1% at 2.5 years¹
• Patients with a baseline A1C of >9% experienced, on average, a 2.1% reduction in A1C at 2.5 years¹

Isn’t it easier to take oral medication? Why would a type 2 diabetic want an injectable medication? The drug is very expensive, will insurance cover the cost? These are all questions that came to my mind while researching BYEETA.

BYEETA has to be used as adjunct therapy with other oral medications, like metformin. The medicine works after you eat to lower blood glucose levels by acting in harmony with your stomach, pancreas, liver and brain.

BYEETA also promotes weight loss in most of its patients. That is one side effect I would welcome!

With BYETTA, you may feel less hungry and eat less. In fact, research studies have shown that most patients lost weight. Some medicines for type 2 diabetes, such as sulfonylureas and insulin, can cause weight gain, while other drugs, such as metformin, do not affect weight.

Patients treated with BYETTA lost an average of 5.5 lb by Week 30, which further decreased to11.2 lb at 2.5 years¹

I haven’t personally seen BYEETA used in practice at the hospital that I work, which is an east coast facility. Nor have many of my RN friends at other institutions in the area. Apparently the medication is being prescribed though, I found many blogs dedicated to patients that use this medication with mixed thoughts.