Diabetes Glossary
A1C
A blood test that measures average blood sugar (glucose) over the past 2 to 3 months.
Appetite
A desire for food or drink.
BMI
Body Mass Index, a ratio of height and weight used to determine obesity.
Blood Sugar
Glucose (sugar) found in the blood and the body's main source of energy. Also called blood glucose.
Blood Sugar Level
The amount of glucose (sugar) in a given amount of blood. It is reported as the number of milligrams of glucose in a deciliter of blood, or mg/dL.
Blood Sugar Meter
A hand-held machine that tests blood sugar (glucose) levels. A drop of blood, obtained by pricking a finger, is placed on a small strip that is inserted in the meter which measures and displays the blood sugar level.
Blood Sugar Monitoring
Checking blood sugar (glucose) levels on a regular basis in order to manage diabetes. A blood sugar meter is needed for frequent blood sugar monitoring.
Carbohydrate
One of the three main nutrients in food. Foods that provide carbohydrate include starches, breads, vegetables, fruits, milk products, and sugars. Sometimes called a "carb."
Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE)
A healthcare provider with expertise in diabetes education who has met eligibility requirements and successfully completed a certification exam.
Dose
The amount of a medicine to be taken within a given period.
Fat
One of the three main nutrients in food. Foods that provide fat include butter, margarine, salad dressing, oil, nuts, meat, poultry, fish, and some dairy products. Excess calories are stored as body fat, providing the body with a reserve supply of energy.
Glucose
The sugar that the body makes from the three elements of food—proteins, fats, and carbohydrates—but mostly from carbohydrates. Glucose is the major source of energy for living cells. Because glucose is carried to each cell through the bloodstream, it is often called "blood glucose" or "blood sugar."
Hypoglycemia
Also called low blood sugar (glucose). Symptoms may include sweating, trembling, hunger, dizziness, moodiness, confusion, and blurred vision.
Insulin
A hormone produced in the pancreas by beta cells, which is necessary for glucose (sugar) to be able to enter certain cells of the body and be used for energy.
Liver
A large organ in the body that has many functions, including the production and storage of glucose (sugar).
Pancreas
An organ located behind the stomach that produces the hormones insulin and glucagon, and releases them into the bloodstream to help control blood sugar (glucose) levels. The pancreas also produces digestive enzymes.
Premeasured Dose
A specific amount of a medicine that has already been measured for patient use.
Protein
One of the three main nutrients in food. Foods that provide protein include meat, poultry, fish, cheese, milk, dairy products, eggs, nuts, and dried beans. Proteins are also used in the body to build cells, to create insulin and other hormones, and other functions.
Sulfonylurea
A class of oral medicine for type 2 diabetes that lowers blood sugar (glucose) by helping the pancreas to make more insulin. Examples include Amaryl® (glimepiride), Glucotrol® (glipizide), and Micronase® (glyburide).
Type 2 Diabetes
A condition characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels caused by either a lack of insulin or the body's inability to use insulin efficiently. Type 2 diabetes develops most often in middle-aged and older adults but can appear in young people, and is the most common form of diabetes.
WHAT IS BYDUREON® (exenatide extended-release for injectable suspension)?
BYDUREON is an injectable prescription medicine that may improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and should be used along with diet and exercise. BYDUREON is not recommended as the first medication to treat diabetes.
BYDUREON is a long-acting form of the medication in BYETTA® (exenatide) injection so both drugs should not be used together. BYDUREON is not a substitute for insulin and has not been studied in combination with insulin. BYDUREON is not for people with type 1 diabetes or people with diabetic ketoacidosis (a condition caused by very high blood sugar). BYDUREON is not recommended for use in children. It is not known if BYDUREON is safe and effective in people with a history of pancreatitis or severe kidney problems.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for BYDUREON
- POSSIBLE THYROID TUMORS, INCLUDING CANCER: In animal studies, BYDUREON caused rats to develop tumors of the thyroid gland. Some of these tumors were cancer. It is not known if BYDUREON causes thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) in people. Do not take BYDUREON if you or any of your family members have MTC or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. While taking BYDUREON, tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer.
- Do not take BYDUREON if you have had an allergic reaction to exenatide or any of the other ingredients in BYDUREON. Severe allergic reactions can happen with BYDUREON. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction to BYDUREON are severe rash or itching, swelling of your face, lips, and throat that may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing, feeling faint or dizzy and very rapid heartbeat. If you have any symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, stop taking BYDUREON and call your healthcare provider right away.
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) may happen, which may be severe and lead to death. Before taking BYDUREON, tell your healthcare provider if you have had pancreatitis, stones in your gallbladder (gallstones), a history of alcoholism, or high blood triglyceride levels. Stop taking BYDUREON and call your healthcare provider right away if you have pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that is severe and will not go away, occurs with or without vomiting, or is felt going from your stomach area through to your back. These may be symptoms of pancreatitis.
- Your risk for getting low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is higher if you take BYDUREON with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea. The dose of your sulfonylurea may need to be lowered while you use BYDUREON. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include shakiness, headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, hunger, fast heartbeat, sweating, and feeling jittery.
- Tell your healthcare provider if you have or had kidney problems or a kidney transplant. BYDUREON may cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, leading to loss of fluids (dehydration). Dehydration may cause kidney failure; this can happen in people who have never had kidney problems before. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that will not go away or if you cannot drink liquids.
- 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.
- The most common side effects with BYDUREON include nausea, diarrhea, headache, vomiting, constipation, itching at injection site, a small bump (nodule) at the injection site, and indigestion. Nausea most commonly happens when first starting BYDUREON, but may become less over time.
- Before using BYDUREON, tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, as taking them with BYDUREON may affect how each medicine works. Tell your healthcare provider if you take other diabetes medicines, especially insulin or a sulfonylurea, or warfarin sodium (Coumadin® or Jantoven®).
- Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BYDUREON will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider first if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please click here for Medication Guide, and click here for US Full Prescribing Information for BYDUREON, including Boxed WARNING about possible thyroid tumors including thyroid cancer.
1055US13BR00118-01 1/13 ©2013 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The BYDUREON mark, BYDUREON design mark, and BYETTA are registered trademarks of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, LLC and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
The Steady Support Program mark and design mark and BYDUREON SteadySTART are service marks of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, LLC and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
This site is intended for US residents ages 18 and over.
Patent Nos. 5,424,286, 6,858,576, 6,872,700, 6,956,026, 7,456,254, 6,479,065, 6,495,164, 6,667,061, 6,824,822, 7,223,440, 7,563,871, and 7,612,176.
The BYDUREON mark, BYDUREON design mark, and BYETTA are registered trademarks of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, LLC and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
The Steady Support Program mark and design mark and BYDUREON SteadySTART are service marks of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, LLC and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
This site is intended for US residents ages 18 and over.
Patent Nos. 5,424,286, 6,858,576, 6,872,700, 6,956,026, 7,456,254, 6,479,065, 6,495,164, 6,667,061, 6,824,822, 7,223,440, 7,563,871, and 7,612,176.