My doctor has started me on Byetta for my diabetes. Is this a good drug?

Byetta also known as exenatide is a medication used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is often combined with diet and exercise to control blood sugar levels. When sugar levels are left untreated, this can lead to damage to the eyes, kidney and narrow blood vessels in the heart and legs. Adequate control of blood sugar is vital if one wants to prevent complications of diabetes. Byetta works by stimulating secretion of natural substances called incretins- incretins in return stimulate insulin secretion, which lowers sugars. Byetta is only meant for treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is used in combination with other diabetic drugs. 

As far as effectiveness of Byetta is concerned, the reports are not so great. Byetta often fails to work in obese people and in those who have developed insulin resistance. Byetta is also a very expensive drug. The older drugs like metformin are still better than byetta and a lot cheaper. Start exercise, eat less sugar and this will help lower your blood sugars.

What is the cost of blood glucose strips for home monitoring?

The cost of home blood glucose monitoring is not cheap. The cost of each glucose strip can range from $0.30-$1.0. For those who need to check the blood sugars 2-5 times a day, the cost can add up. 

For the future, things do look bright. There is an effort to develop a glucose machine which contains an insulin pump, meter a controller and a cellular phone. These glucophones are in the evolutionary phase and currently sell for about $150. Do not be in a rush to buy these devices yet, as preliminary reports indicate that they have a lot of technical problems- means that they suck.

I am a diabetic. Can I use one set of blood glucose strips on all home monitoring devices?

Blood glucose strips from different brands do vary and should not be mixed; otherwise the machine has to be calibrated. Every time one uses a strip, the container should be immediately be recapped. There are also individually enclosed strips available which are more reliable but also more costly.

How much blood does one need to measure blood sugar at home?

The size of blood sample needed varies slightly depending on the model (from 0.3-10 ul). The newer models require considerable less blood. The smaller volumes of blood mean that you have to prick your self less often and this is also less painful.

The latest glucose machines can also measure glucose in other fluid as well. However, the technology of these continuous glucose meters is still evolving and not recommended for home use. The majority of consumers can get their glucose devices at little or no cost because of the rebates. The long term expenses are from the purchase of strips and other supplies.

I am a diabetic. What should I know before buying a home glucose monitoring device?

For the consumer, the following considerations are important when selecting a machine for home use:

- Does the machine work with small sample size? This will allow you to take less blood, thus will be less painful and will permit alternate site testing

-   How long does the test time take? You want a device which takes less than 10-20 seconds which makes it more convenient

-  Is the machine portable?

-  How expensive are the supplies- reagents and strips

I am a diabetic but my home blood glucose measurements are always different from the ones done in the doctor’s office. Why?

The accuracy of blood glucose meters improves when they are used appropriately. So patient education on correct use and evaluating the results is important. Some of the most frequent errors at home in when using blood glucose machines include a soiled or contaminated meter, use of expired test strips, too little sample size and the failure to calibrate the machine prior to use. 

There are many glucose meters available and new models are constantly being released. The majority of newer machines are all calibrated with plasma glucose and thus the values obtained at home can be compared to the laboratory values.  Like all electronic devices, glucose machines are mainly distinguished based on their features. These features include the blood sample site, duration of test time, memory capability, ability to download data, alternate site testing and various software. Other machines can also help record your medications, doses, calorie intake and how much exercise you perform. Some of the latest devices even have voice prompts for the visually handicapped.

I am a type 2 diabetic. Can you tell me how accurate are devices for home glucose monitoring?

Monitoring of blood glucose at home is now widely practiced and accepted by most patients. Everyone agrees that home monitoring of glucose can help make management of diabetes a lot easier. However, there are a variety of home monitoring devices out on the market and choosing the right one is an overwhelming task for the average consumer.

Unlike laboratory measurement of blood glucose, the home devices have a wide range of accuracy. In fact, not all home glucose monitoring machines are the same when it comes to accuracy. The FDA calls for all blood glucose monitors to produce results within 20% of a reference measurement and there is hope that the newer generation of machines will result in only a 10% difference. The American Diabetes Association has gone one step further and demanded that all meters should produce readings within 5% of reference level. All the meters currently on the market do comply by FDA standard but they are not as accurate as the laboratory machine.  If you live in North America, do not buy machines from abroad as the quality of devices cannot be guaranteed

Can you tell me what supplements I can take to control my blood sugars?

Unfortunately, outside of insulin and the oral hypoglycemic drugs, there is nothing that can help lower your blood sugars. The majority of health supplements marketed for blood sugar control are junk, untested and do not serve any real medical benefit. Moreover, these supplements contain contaminants, many are even fake products and all of them are expensive.

If you have high sugars, the one thing you can is to exercise. There is a lot of evidence that regular exercise can help you lower your blood sugar, reduce your weight and even lower your cholesterol. It really does not matter what exercise you do, as long as you do something that is physical. There is no easy way out. Popping supplements has become an easy solution for everyone wanting to cure their medical problems. The problem with the health supplement market is that it is unregulated with no quality control. So if you want to leave a hassle free life with diabetes, start walking today. Walking is free, allows you to enjoy nature and does work-if you remain motivated.