Bydureon and Weight Loss

Bydureon is the trade name of an antidiabetic drug known as exenatide. Sold under the brand name Bydureon and Byetta, exenatide is an incretin mimetic designed to stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin when blood sugar levels go up. Insulin, in turn, helps redirect sugar into other body tissues from the blood.

A prescription for Bydureon comes in the form of a once-a-week injectable for people with diabetes mellitus (commonly known as type 2 diabetes). Type 2 diabetes is a condition known to impair the body's ability to regulate and convert sugar to energy. Since insulin resistance is a symptom of this condition, patients are likely to experience weight gain.

Addressing weight gain when battling with type 2 diabetes is a problem that many patients battle with. What if Bydureon can help you deal with this problem while keeping your blood sugar low?

How Bydureon Works

Bydureon responds to food getting into the small intestines. In particular, its action takes place in response to carbohydrates in the form of glucose. It is designed to stimulate the release of insulin, inhibit glucagon release and slow down the emptying of the stomach to lower blood sugar levels.

Can Bydureon Help with Weight Loss?

An estimated 90 percent of people who are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Being overweight or obese can take a toll on your self-esteem. Even more, regaining a healthy weight can be quite a hassle.

Healthy weight loss is proven to reduce the risk of developing diabetes. It is also a sustainable way of managing type 2 diabetes if you already have a diagnosis.

Studies show that taking Bydureon can help reduce weight and A1C, which is a measure of average blood glucose levels in a span of three months. Patients taking the drug also experience improvements in risk factors for heart disease, such as blood cholesterol levels and systolic blood pressure.

It is also suggested that Bydureon can help sustain weight loss while lowering the risk of developing hypoglycemia. As a medical condition in which the blood glucose level is belo the normal range, hypoglycemia is usually common with diabetes treatment. Its symptoms include increased hunger, dizziness, fatigue, and sweating.

The Bottom Line

Many people living with type 2 diabetes would find relief in a drug that can help lower blood sugar and help them lose weight. Bydureon seems to help in these two areas, though more research and clinical approval for weight loss are needed. It can also reduce the incidence of low blood sugar while helping you maintain a healthy weight.