Beyond Type 1
Jan 20, 2018 14:29:12 GMT -5
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Post by mannmade on Jan 20, 2018 14:29:12 GMT -5
IT’S NO LONGER JUST A NEEDLE GAME WRITTEN BY: Ginger Gault FacebookTwitterEmail
Talk about a roller coaster ride.
Like most T1Ds, I started with multiple daily injections of long-acting and short-acting insulin. Several years later I started on an insulin pump, which definitely changed my life for the better.
After many years of insulin injections, pump site insertions, and CGM site insertions, however, I started having trouble with insulin absorption because of scar tissue. After years of taking care of myself I was suddenly having the worst blood sugars of my life. When your body doesn’t properly absorb your insulin, it’s impossible to keep your blood sugars stable. You go from highs to lows constantly. My CGM set alarms off all night long, and I had to feed lows throughout the day, leading to rebound highs and weight gain. Talk about frustrating!
I’d heard about Afrezza, the inhaled insulin, a couple years earlier and was interested in trying it. But my endocrinologist said it wasn’t a good fit for a T1D and claimed I could never get the same kind of control as with a pump. At that point I listened to my doctor and gave up. Big mistake! While not all doctors are on board with Afrezza yet, I believe it’s just because they haven’t given it a chance. After having so many problems with insulin absorption, I knew it was time to find an endocrinologist who would prescribe an inhaled version for me. I did just that, and the move has changed my life.
Guess what? My blood sugars stay steady all night long. I’d forgotten what it was like to sleep through the night. Overall my BGLs have shown an average of about 30 points of improvement using inhaled insulin versus a pump. My most recent A1C was 5.7 – the lowest it’s ever been in my 27 years as a T1D.
Not having an insulin pump attached me to 24 hours a day has changed my life as well. I never realized just how much wearing a pump bothered me until it was no longer there. It’s been difficult to get my insurance company to cover for inhaled insulin, but I will keep fighting. Being able to manage my blood sugar is worth it.
Talk about a roller coaster ride.
Like most T1Ds, I started with multiple daily injections of long-acting and short-acting insulin. Several years later I started on an insulin pump, which definitely changed my life for the better.
After many years of insulin injections, pump site insertions, and CGM site insertions, however, I started having trouble with insulin absorption because of scar tissue. After years of taking care of myself I was suddenly having the worst blood sugars of my life. When your body doesn’t properly absorb your insulin, it’s impossible to keep your blood sugars stable. You go from highs to lows constantly. My CGM set alarms off all night long, and I had to feed lows throughout the day, leading to rebound highs and weight gain. Talk about frustrating!
I’d heard about Afrezza, the inhaled insulin, a couple years earlier and was interested in trying it. But my endocrinologist said it wasn’t a good fit for a T1D and claimed I could never get the same kind of control as with a pump. At that point I listened to my doctor and gave up. Big mistake! While not all doctors are on board with Afrezza yet, I believe it’s just because they haven’t given it a chance. After having so many problems with insulin absorption, I knew it was time to find an endocrinologist who would prescribe an inhaled version for me. I did just that, and the move has changed my life.
Guess what? My blood sugars stay steady all night long. I’d forgotten what it was like to sleep through the night. Overall my BGLs have shown an average of about 30 points of improvement using inhaled insulin versus a pump. My most recent A1C was 5.7 – the lowest it’s ever been in my 27 years as a T1D.
Not having an insulin pump attached me to 24 hours a day has changed my life as well. I never realized just how much wearing a pump bothered me until it was no longer there. It’s been difficult to get my insurance company to cover for inhaled insulin, but I will keep fighting. Being able to manage my blood sugar is worth it.
