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How BYETTA Works

In people with type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar (glucose) is a big concern. After a meal, blood sugar levels rise, often too high. BYETTA slows down the rate at which glucose enters the bloodstream. BYETTA signals the pancreas to make the right amount of insulin at the right time to help blood sugar remain closer to normal.

After blood sugar levels off, BYETTA stops signaling the pancreas to produce insulin. This effect helps the body avoid low blood sugar, too (called hypoglycemia). As a result, BYETTA may help reduce your high blood sugar levels throughout the day. And that can mean better control, which can be one of the keys to helping manage your diabetes.

BYETTA is not insulin and should not be taken instead of insulin. BYETTA actually helps your body make more of its own insulin. When used with a diet and exercise program, BYETTA can help keep your blood sugar under control in at least four ways:
Go to Byetta Benefits

Indication

BYETTA is an injectable prescription medicine that may improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, when used with a diet and exercise program.

BYETTA is not insulin and should not be taken instead of insulin. BYETTA can be used with Lantus® (insulin glargine), which is a long-acting insulin, but should not be taken with short- and/or rapid-acting insulin. BYETTA is not for people with type 1 diabetes or people with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Important Safety Information for BYETTA® (exenatide) injection

  • Serious side effects can happen in people who take BYETTA, including inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) which may be severe and lead to death. Before taking BYETTA, tell your healthcare provider if you have had pancreatitis, stones in your gallbladder (gallstones), a history of alcoholism, or high blood triglyceride levels. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that is severe, and will not go away. The pain may happen with or without vomiting and may be felt going from your abdomen through to your back.
  • Your risk for getting low blood sugar is higher if you take BYETTA with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. The dose of your sulfonylurea or insulin medicine may need to be lowered while you use BYETTA.
  • BYETTA should not be used in people who have severe kidney problems and should be used with caution in people who have had a kidney transplant. BYETTA may cause new or worse problems with kidney function, including kidney failure.
  • Before you use BYETTA, tell your healthcare provider if you have severe problems with your stomach, such as delayed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems with digesting food.
  • Do not use BYETTA if you have had an allergic reaction to exenatide or any of the other ingredients in BYETTA. Severe allergic reactions can happen with BYETTA. Stop taking BYETTA and get medical help right away.
  • Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BYETTA will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider first if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
  • The most common side effects with BYETTA include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, feeling jittery, dizziness, headache, acid stomach, constipation, and weakness. Nausea most commonly happens when first starting BYETTA, but may become less over time.

These are not all the side effects with BYETTA. Talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Please see the BYETTA Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.

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02-05-1136-B ©2012 Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The BYETTA mark, BYETTA design mark, BYETTA By Your Side mark, and BYETTA By Your Side design mark are registered trademarks of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
This product, or its use, may be covered by one or more U.S. Patents including U.S. Patent Nos. 5,424,286, 6,858,576, 6,872,700, 6,902,744, 6,956,026, 7,297,761, 7,521,423, 7,741,269, in addition to others, including patents pending.
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