FDA Approved Once-Weekly Injection For Type 2 Diabetes

The US Food and Drug Administration approved the first once-weekly injection that improves glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes, according to a news release from Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Amylin's injectable prescription medicine Bydureon provides a controlled release of exenatide throughout the week. It helps the body make its own insulin when needed and improves blood glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Bydureon should be used with diet and exercise. Amylin does not recommend Bydureon as the first medication to treat diabetes.

Amylin plans to make Bydureon available in pharmacies nationwide in February. Patients can self-administer the suspension by subcutaneous injection.

The approval of Bydureon was based on results of a clinical trial as well as clinical experience with Byetta, Amylin's twice-daily form of exenatide that has been available in the US since June 2005.


In the 24-week clinical trial, patients taking Bydureon reduced A1C by 1.6 percentage points from baseline, according to Amylin. A1C is a measure of average blood sugar over three months. Patients also lost an average of 5.1 pounds during the trial program as well.

One adverse side effect noted in the trial included nausea by 14 percent of patients. Others included diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection and injection site nodules. No major hypoglycemic events were noted.

Other common side effects are headache, vomiting, constipation, itching at the injection site, and indigestion.

Bydureon is not for people with type 1 diabetes or people with diabetic ketoacidosis. The drug is not recommended for use in children.

Exanatide has been associated with acute pancreatitis. Bydureon should not be used in people with a history of severe kidney problems as it may cause kidney problems and kidney failure.


People with type 2 diabetes should consult their treating physician to discuss their diabetes management plan.

Source: Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Photo: Pexels


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...