BYETTA - New Class of Diabetic Drugs

Byetta is a drug derived from the saliva of the Gila monster lizard. I do know one person who is taking Byetta and has better control of her blood sugar levels. The medication has even decreased her appetite. That is a benefit for her since she is overweight. Byetta (exenatide) is the first among a new class of diabetes drugs for Type 2 Diabetes called incretin mimetics -- synthetic medications that mimic action of a hormone that spurs insulin production after a person eats and blood sugar levels rise above a certain threshold. Traditional diabetes drugs that promote insulin production do so even if glucose levels aren't high enough, which could cause hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar). Byetta, derived from the lizard's saliva, mimics that action of the human hormone GLP-1, which prompts the body to secrete insulin and is also thought to play a role in deciding when a person feels full. This is great because it almost acts like an appetite suppressant. Common side effects of the drug were nausea and decreased appetite. Byetta is very unique and supposedly works in a different way than pills or insulin. By helping your body produce the right amount of insulin at the right time, Byetta helps take the guesswork out of type 2 diabetes. Byetta is used in combination with Metformin (Glucophage) and Sulfonylurea like Amaryl