Insulin & Exenatide Together: Safety, Risks & Dosage Adjustments

Insulin can be taken with exenatide, but you should talk to your doctor first. Insulin and exenatide both drugs can lower blood sugar levels, so taking them together can increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Your doctor will need to adjust the dose of insulin or exenatide, or both, to avoid this risk.

Exenatide is a once-weekly injectable medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. GLP-1 is a hormone produced by the gut that helps control blood sugar levels. Exenatide works by increasing the levels of GLP-1 in the body, which slows down digestion and absorption of food, leading to lower blood sugar levels.

Insulin is a hormone that is produced naturally by the pancreas. It helps the cells in your body take in glucose (sugar) from the blood. Insulin is used to treat diabetes when the body does not make enough of its own insulin.