[azmum]

I have been on Metformin 1000 mg. twice daily and Januvia 100 mg. at breakfast. My glucose numbers were around 139 pre breakfast and then were around 100 before lunch and dinner.

My doctor recently took me off the Metformin completely and added Byetta 5mcg at breakfast and dinner. Still on Januvia. It has been three days now, and my numbers are in the 190's pre and post meals. It's very disturbing because my numbers have not been that high since I was diagnosed in 2004. My doctor told yesterday that she would like me to stay on it for a month (she is out of town for two weeks).

How long before my readings go down?

[princesslinda]

I saw quite dramatic results at my first injection of Byetta, my 2 hr post meals that had been in the 120 range went to 70.

Are you watching your carb intake? Exercising?

How long since you stopped the metformin? Since it takes metformin up to 3 weeks to build in your system, it may take it that long to totally get out of your system. Since metformin helps with insulin resistance, it may be that you'll stil need to take it to better use the insulin you are producing. I'd definitely let your doc or the doc on call know about the change in your #s in case they feel it prudent to start you back on a small dose of metformin to help with the insulin resistance.

[azmum]

Just stopped taking the Metformin three days ago, so there probably is quite a bit still in my system. Have always been carb sensitive, so watch those fairly closely. I walk briskly for 45 minutes daily.

I had the best control when I was on 1000 mg Metformin daily and 100mg. Januvia. The doctor increased my Metformin to 2000 mg and my numbers started increasing as well. That's confusing to me, as well as the even higher numbers now with Byetta. What you are saying, then, as the Metformin gets out of my system, my numbers will go down, if not then maybe I do still need the Metformin. Got it, that makes sense! Thanks!

[princesslinda]

Originally Posted by azmum

What you are saying, then, as the Metformin gets out of my system, my numbers will go down, if not then maybe I do still need the Metformin. Got it, that makes sense! Thanks!

No, I don't think the numbers will go down after the metformin is out of your system. I was thinking that if you'd been off the metformin for awhile and had just had bad numbers over the past 3 days, it may be that the metformin is out of your system but you still need it. Sorry I wasn't more clear. Actually your numbers may go even higher when the metformin is totally gone if you have insulin resistance.

Byetta works on post-meal numbers, so its not going to help the fasting or pre meal numbers, your other meds should do that.

There are quite a few people on both metformin and Byetta...actually I plan on getting a script next time I see the doctor, as the metformin evening dose helped my morning numbers stay lower than they are without the metformin. I noticed an upward trend 2-3 weeks after I stopped it.

[Janlaton]

Does not look like it's working. Think I would be hollering real loud at the doc.!!!!

[pdxdennisj]

First, it is surprises to me that your doc removed Metformin from your list of meds. My Endo left me on 850mg twice daily. Secondly, many folks don't respond to the 5mcg dose (some docs use it as a "break in" dose). I didn't really start responding well until my dose was upped to 10mcg. As Linda says - it is a short acting (about 3 hours) medication meant to deal with the rise in bg's after you eat. It works well with Metformin and/or insulin N.

[azmum]

Thank you all for your support. This is a major change in meds for me, so I am feeling a little unsettled to say the least, especially since my doctor is out of town for two weeks,

Four hours post meal reading is at 126, not great, but, at least better than any reading of the past three days. So, perhaps the Byetta is helping with post meal readings.

Does Januvia also work as a post meal medication, too? When the doctor took me off the Metformin, I just double checked I heard her correctly about just taking the Januvia and Byetta, but didn't question the removal of the Metformin. It does seem strange to stop it completely.

At any rate, if it does not improve, I will call her doctor on call. Thanks again for all of your support!

[Aurora96]

Originally Posted by princesslinda

Byetta works on post-meal numbers, so its not going to help the fasting or pre meal numbers, your other meds should do that.

Actually, I saw a dramatic drop in my FBG once I started Byetta. Almost 70 point drop in fact! (I had been in the mid 250s. I'm now down to 180 after 3 days on Byetta.)

[jacobsam622]

Originally Posted by azmum

I have been on Metformin 1000 mg. twice daily and Januvia 100 mg. at breakfast. My glucose numbers were around 139 pre breakfast and then were around 100 before lunch and dinner.

My doctor recently took me off the Metformin completely and added Byetta 5mcg at breakfast and dinner. Still on Januvia. It has been three days now, and my numbers are in the 190's pre and post meals. It's very disturbing because my numbers have not been that high since I was diagnosed in 2004. My doctor told yesterday that she would like me to stay on it for a month (she is out of town for two weeks).

How long before my readings go down?

Are you a lizard or human. If you were a lizard I would you have problem if you are ahuman then You have a real problem(other then my bad humor) I take Januvia and they say take it any time of day, the only time it works for me is if I take it before lunch time.