Byetta indeed can cause weight loss in a diabetic.
“Byetta is in a class of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists,” says Alison Massey, MS, RD, LDN, registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with over 10 years of experience in various community and clinical settings.
“This class of medications works by mimicking a hormone called incretin, that our body naturally makes to help lower blood glucose after meals by making you feel full at mealtimes.
“The speed that food empties from your stomach to your small intestine is reduced and you will feel full sooner.
“This slows the digestion process and rise in blood glucose after you eat.
“They also help the pancreas release more insulin and help keep the liver from releasing too much stored insulin.
“They generally do help with weight loss; according to the company website individuals who used Byetta lost an average of four pounds.”
Byetta No Magic Bullet for Weight Loss in Diabetics
But this doesn’t mean that Byetta (generic name exenatide) will melt off 50 pounds, especially in the absence of consistent exercise and proper eating habits. It’s not designed for busting body fat, but a mild reduction in pounds may result.
The only magic elixir for weight loss, including for those with diabetes, is strength training and interval cardio training.
Strength training must be done at an intense level to produce startling weight loss, though at a moderate level, it will still incur weight loss.
The best strength training exercises for a diabetic or anyone involve using more than one joint at a time, such as squats, bench presses, rows and overhead presses.
Interval training involves alternating periods of casual pacing with short bursts of high effort movement, such as mixing short dashes on a walking path with casual walking.
Byetta should be considered only as an adjunct to weight loss, not the magic bullet.
