I've been on Byetta for over 2 years and still have nausea and the cold feeling but the good side effects are that I weight what I should and my a1c is under 7. The cold feeling for me lasts about 90 minutes and then I'm fine again (most of the time), for the nausea I eat a tiny piece of raw ginger and it works right away. Good luck!

I was absolutely FREEZING the first year or so I was on the pen, especially at the office. Eventually though, it got better.

I don't know of any documented reason why this happens, but it is very common among Byetta users. More tahn 50% have this side effect. One theory is that because byetta is a synthetic Incretin Hormone, it causes the muscles of the pancreas to contract and release in an effort to produce and release more insulin. As byetta travels through the body, it causes other muscles to do the same thing, which results in a chill sensation.

huh no wonder I am always cold. I never put 2 and 2 together. Thank you guys

Itake byetta thats one side effect I would enjoyLOL

Yea according to all I have read this is a included side effect with the byetta. i tried to get my medical to cover it and hey informed me i needed to FIRST go on Insulin Than they would put me on the byetta
I have had no help with this insulin they have me on and I discovered at my appointment today my doctors knowledge is limited at best.
i am giving insulin one more try and if i do not start to see numbers change in a month i am going to try for Byetta.


Oh and a great site for more info on Byetta check this one out Oh actually this site is full of wonderful Diabetes info in general.

http://www.diabetesexplained.com/byetta.html

Yeah you first have to use insulin. There have not been any studies of Byetta and insulin together so many doctors and insurance do not want to put patients from the get go with Byette.

What insulin do you use? Have you tried Lantus with a quick acting like Novolog?

I am on Levemir pen it is a long acting one. The thing is my Doctor took me off my metformin and my glimipiride. i was somewhat controlled with them both all I needed was something ADDED to that to help Which my old doctor wanted to add a low dose of the insulin. I get this new doctor she snatched me off everything
i am so tempted to just go back on all my meds I was on and than Add a small 20 unit of levemir in the evening and see how that works.
heck my doctor did not even know you could do a day and evening split dose on levemir (it is on the site) She got right indignant when I told her it was in fact done and it is on the site she said well I will have to ask the rep HELLO how about pull one of the papers out the darn pen boxes you have
Sorry for taking this off topic i am a bit ticked today Can ya tell LOL

i dis agree with using insulin before byetta, because my doctor has me on metformin 1000, x2 day , actos 25 mg 1 day and byetta 20 mg x2 day. i am desperatly trying to stay off insulin.

My diabetes doc first suggested Byetta, but I put him off about it because frankly I'm a bit needle-phobic. However, my son's fiancee's dad has been using it for quite some time and jokingly calls it his "monkey spit." I haven't heard too many complaints from his end, but I'm doing my best to stay on oral meds for now.
Given the summer we've been having where I live with all the heat advisories and temps beyond 100 F., a chill might not be such a bad side effect, but I don't do nausea very well at all.
And, of course, it seems that every medication for this devil disease has its share of side effects, some of which are worse for some of us than others. It's just so much fun isn't it?