Three-year Byetta study positively a joke

[wiseguy]

Quoted from The Diabetes Blog (http://www.thediabetesblog.com/2007/06/27/three-year-byetta-study-positively-a-joke/)

Byetta-makers Amylin and Lilly visited the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting and released clinical results from a three-year trial, the lengthiest one to date. The 217 patients with diabetes enrolled in the study had poor blood glucose control with other diabetes drugs metformin or sulfonylurea. Byetta was added to the mix.

Here's the punchline -- after three years, 46 percent of patients were able to maintain blood-glucose levels of a 7.0 A1C (not impressive for a type 2 diabetic) and 30 percent had a 6.5 A1C -- the target level recommended by the ACE Diabetes Mellitus Consensus Conference in 2001. Notice the media reports do not say anything about the remaining 24 percent who obviously had A1C levels higher than 7.0. Add that 24 percent to the 46 percent at the non-optimal level of 7.0 A1C and you get 70 percent of patients maintaining blood sugars high enough over three years to silently develop retinopathy, kidney problems and nerve damage, to name a few.

[barko]

Well..

That is an interesting blog entry, but no real facts. Read the other comments to that blog entry ;-)

Byetta works - its not for everyone, but it works. On the first dose my BGLs were significantly down. They have been the lowest in 4 years and it is far better than any oral combo I have been on. I also have lost almost 30 pounds and I feel much, MUCH better. That is my experience, and like I said, Byetta (or any med for that matter) is not for everyone.

So...what is the point of this post, just wondering? If you are trying to imply that Byetta is a failure, I think it is a waste of time. Plenty of users and supporting stats will show otherwise. Do you know of another "wonder" drug we should all switch to that will keep us all under the A1c danger levels?