Function

• Symlin contains the amino acid amylin, which decreases the speed that food leaves your stomach to move to your small intestine for absorption and decreases your appetite. Amylin also prevents your liver from producing sugar.
  
  

Effects

• With both type 1 and 2 diabetes, slower emptying of the stomach means that sugar from the food you eat is released into your bloodstream more slowly, causing less of an impact on your blood sugar level. When your liver produces less sugar, it is also easier for you to control your blood sugar.
  
  

Features

• Symlin is only prescribed for diabetics who use insulin injections to control sugar levels. With meals, type 2 diabetics inject between 60 mcg and 120 mcg of Symlin, while type 1 diabetics take between 15 mcg and 60 mcg depending on the size of the meal and their doctors' specific instructions, according to RxList.
  
  

Risks

• The most common side effects of Symlin include loss of coordination, decreased appetite, muscle or joint pain and stiffness, stomach pain, vomiting and weight loss. Hypoglycemia is a potential risk of Symlin, caused by the combination of Symlin and insulin.
  
  

Considerations

• Symlin is only prescribed for patients who have demonstrated the ability to successfully use insulin to control their diabetes. If you have a history of gastroparesis, the inability to recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia, frequent infections or emotional stress, it may not be safe for you to take Symlin, warns the Mayo Clinic.