Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Company are the manufacturers and marketers for Exenatide, a class of medications used for treating type 2 diabetes. Exenatide is marketed as Byetta in the market today and is an incretin mimetic having glucoregulatory effects. It has the power of lowering blood sugar and can be combined with other medications like pioglitazone, sulfonylureas and insulin to improve glucose control.

It is better to use Exenatide with metformin, thiazolinediones and sulfonylureas by injecting the medication twice a day with a pre-filled pen device. You find an immediate response with a rapid release of endogenous insulin, suppression of glucagons and a regulation of gastric emptying and a reduced appetite. Exenatide helps in lowering blood sugar when there is elevation of blood sugar but does not continue in lowering blood sugar once the levels normalize, unlike insulin.

Exenatide also helps in reduction of appetite, reduces weight gain and prevent overeating. People on Exenatide lose weight slowly; and it is the people who are the most overweight that lose maximum weight while on the therapy. Exenatide also reduces liver fat content. Its only relative disadvantage is that it is administered by injection.

There are no major reported side effects with Exenatide as it is well tolerated. Nausea is the most common side effect. It is the diabetic patient who does not have a well controlled diet who benefits most with Exenatide.