Incretin mimetics for type 2 diabetes

Incretin Mimetics for Type 2 Diabetes

Examples

Generic Name	Brand Name
exenatide	Byetta
liraglutide	Victoza

Exenatide and liraglutide are a type of medicine called incretin mimetics used to treat people who have type 2 diabetes and who have not been able to control their blood sugar levels with oral medicines. This medicine is given as a shot 1 or 2 times a day.

How It Works

Incretin mimetics act like (mimic) the natural hormones in your body that lower blood sugar. These hormones are called incretins. Exenatide:

Allows your pancreas to release insulin. This drug lowers blood sugar levels only when they rise too high.
Prevents the pancreas from giving out glucagon. Glucagon is a hormone that causes the liver to release its stored sugar into the bloodstream.
Helps to slow the rate at which your stomach empties after eating. This may make you feel less hungry and more satisfied after a meal.

Why It Is Used

Exenatide can be used when metformin or sulfonylurea drugs are not working to control blood sugar. You may take exenatide with these oral drugs. You most likely will not use exenatide if you are using insulin.

How Well It Works

Early studies showed that exenatide lowered blood sugar levels both before and after eating.¹ Studies also showed that people who added exenatide to their treatment with some oral medicines had lower hemoglobin A1c levels than they did before they added exenatide to their treatment.² A1c is a measure of how well blood sugar levels have remained within a target range over the previous 2 to 3 months.

Side Effects

The most common side effects of exenatide are nausea and diarrhea. Nausea is usually worse during the first few weeks of treatment and gets better over time.

Taking exenatide with a sulfonylurea drug may cause mild to moderate low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). If you take both drugs, you may need to take a lower dose of the sulfonylurea to prevent low blood sugar. But low blood sugar is not a side effect when exenatide is taken with metformin.

Exenatide does not cause weight gain. Sometimes people who take exenatide lose weight.

People with severe kidney disease should not take exenatide.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a possible link between exenatide (Byetta) and acute pancreatitis. If you have unexplained, continuous, severe stomach pain, which may or may not occur with vomiting, contact your doctor immediately.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

Before injecting exenatide, talk to your doctor about other medicines you are taking. Exenatide may affect how other medicines are absorbed into your system.

If you are pregnant or want to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before you take exenatide. He or she may recommend that you take another drug, because the safety of exenatide during pregnancy has not been studied in humans.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Citations

Exenatide (Byetta) for type 2 diabetes. (2005). Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, 47(1210): 45-46.

DeFronzo RA, et al. (2005). Effects of exenatide (exendin-4) on glycemic control and weight over 30 weeks in metformin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 28(5): 1092-1100.

Answer:

Your level is currently NormalHigh (hyperglycemia).Low (hypoglycemia).

If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.

People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Your blood sugar level is slightly high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.

However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your level is currently normal. However, if you are concerned about diabetes speak with your physician. There may be other risk factors that increase your risk for diabetes.

Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.

Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.

One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your blood sugar level may be high, depending on when you last ate. If you have not eaten for at least 8 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 100. If you've eaten within the last 2 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 140. You should call your health care provider and ask if you need laboratory tests to check for diabetes. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Blood sugars consistently above 180 warrant prompt medical attention.

Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.

One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your blood sugar level is high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

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