Do you know that inhaled insulin is commercially accessible within the US and has been since 2014?! It’s in all probability one of many best-kept secrets and techniques within the diabetes group which, for my part, is a disgrace.
Afrezza has been part of my diabetes toolbox for just a few years now and on this article, I’ll offer you an summary of what inhaled insulin is, the way it works, and why I’ve chosen to make use of it.
What’s Afrezza and the way is it completely different from different rapid-acting insulins
Afrezza is a rapid-acting insulin much like the rapid-acting insulins you inject (Apidra, Humalog or Novolog), however you inhale it slightly than inject it. Similar to the opposite rapid-acting insulins, it’s a mealtime insulin (bolus) so you continue to want one other background insulin within the type of long-acting insulin (basal).
Inhaled insulin passes by means of the lungs and instantly into the bloodstream, which signifies that the insulin begins to work considerably quicker than injected insulin. It’s so quick that it’ll seem within the bloodstream inside a minute of being inhaled and you may see the primary measurable impact in about 12 minutes.
As a result of it really works so rapidly, it solely stays within the physique for about 90 minutes versus the 3-5 hours that injected rapid-acting insulin stays within the physique.
Dosing Afrezza
One other means Afrezza is completely different from injected rapid-acting insulin is that it is available in set doses of 4, 8, and 12 models. Whenever you obtain your Afrezza from the pharmacy, it comes with a set of inhalers and also you then decide the dose cartridge, load the inhaler, and inhale the entire dose.
The Afrezza models should not the identical because the models for injected insulin. One unit of injected rapid-acting insulin is identical as about 1.5 models of Afrezza, which signifies that the smallest Afrezza cartridge (4 models) equals about 2.6 models of injected rapid-acting insulin.
Potential unwanted effects
Afrezza has the identical potential unwanted effects as injected insulin however shouldn’t be utilized by folks with sure lung issues, reminiscent of COPD or bronchial asthma, or individuals who presently smoke or have stopped smoking within the final 6 months.
You possibly can learn extra in regards to the potential unwanted effects right here.
I haven’t skilled any persistent coughing from utilizing the product, however research present that 27% of individuals reported growing a cough from utilizing Afrezza.
Why I exploit inhaled insulin
I’ve used Afrezza for years alongside my basal insulin and injected rapid-acting insulin, and I discover that it’s good for sure conditions.
I predominantly use Afrezza for resistant excessive blood sugars and higher-carb meals. Everyone knows these conditions the place our blood sugar is “caught” at a excessive stage and plainly it doesn’t matter what we do, it gained’t come down. Afrezza is a good resolution for that.
If I’m caught at 200 mg/dl (~11 mmol/l) or above, I’ll attain for a 4-unit Afrezza cartridge and my blood sugar will get down into vary VERY rapidly. A 4-unit cartridge drops me about 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) however how a lot it’s going to lower your blood sugar depends upon your correction issue.
Word: I discovered that Afrezza would lower my blood sugar just a little extra aggressively the primary month or so after I began utilizing it. I’ve heard the identical from different customers, but it surely’s solely anecdotal info at this level since I haven’t seen any information to assist it.
One other state of affairs the place I actually respect getting access to Afrezza is after I take pleasure in a higher-carb meal or a excessive glycemic meal. Since Afrezza hits the bloodstream so rapidly, I don’t must pre-bolus for the carbs, and I discover it simpler to match the height of Afrezza to the meals than I do with injected rapid-acting insulin.
The way it interacts with train
I wished to make use of Afrezza after I eat earlier than doing cardio because it’s out of the physique in 90 minutes. Sadly, the truth that Afrezza solely is available in fastened doses signifies that I hardly ever have entry to the correct dose and I’ve to stay with injected insulin.
One other remark I’ve made is that the impact of Afrezza appears to get intensified much more by train than common rapid-acting insulin. Which means I’m very cautious if I’ve to do any kind of train inside a 90-minute window of inhaling Afrezza.
One of many first instances I used Afrezza was to convey down a excessive blood sugar simply earlier than biking dwelling from having brunch. It made my blood sugar drop way more than I anticipated and I needed to cease after lower than 10 minutes on the bike to deal with a considerably low blood sugar.
Studying to make use of a brand new insulin
Studying tips on how to use Afrezza is a bit like studying a brand new language, and simply as we don’t all the time get the doses proper for injected insulin, you gained’t get the dosing/timing proper each time for Afrezza both.
It takes time and a few trial-and-error to determine how a lot Afrezza to take, when to take it, and when NOT to take it.
And for full disclosure, I’ve had a few of the scariest low blood sugars of my life utilizing Afrezza. As a result of Afrezza is so efficient, having an excessive amount of on board can rapidly lower blood sugars considerably. What I’m making an attempt to say is that that is NOT the insulin that you just “rage bolus” with.
There are upsides and disadvantages to utilizing Afrezza and I nonetheless suggest utilizing it in the way in which that’s best for you.
Apart from the occasional lows and restricted unit sizes, I believe it’s an excellent product. It truly is a really efficient means of decreasing blood sugars rapidly
Methods to get Afrezza
Afrezza was permitted by the FDA in 2014 and is presently solely accessible in the USA and some different nations. When you stay in the USA, your physician can prescribe Afrezza simply as he/she will prescribe every other type of insulin.
Your physician won’t learn about Afrezza and if that’s the case, you’ll want to coach and push for a prescription. When you don’t really feel snug having that dialog, you’ll be able to all the time refer your physician to the Afrezza web site.
Earlier than prescribing Afrezza, your physician ought to do an FEV (pressured expiratory quantity) respiration check to achieve an understanding of your lung operate. It’s a fairly easy check, you simply must breathe right into a mouthpiece. Your physician ought to then have you ever carry out the check once more after 6 months and yearly after that to make sure there’s no change to your lung operate.
After getting your prescription, you’ll decide up Afrezza on the pharmacy identical to you do with any of your different insulins.
If in case you have non-public insurance coverage, Afrezza is almost definitely coated because it’s accessible on 70% of personal insurance policy. It could be an thought to name your insurance coverage firm or learn up in your advantages plan to be taught if you happen to’re coated and what your co-pay is. Most individuals pay about $45 out-of-pocket per prescription, however that can, in fact, range by plan.
I’d extremely suggest utilizing the Afrezza co-pay card. For me, it signifies that my co-pay will get lowered to $15 per prescription, which makes Afrezza a really inexpensive insulin possibility.
