What is Afrezza?

Afrezza is one of the newer diabetes drugs on the market, and the most exciting part of it is that it is not an injectable. It’s an insulin you inhale! I took the plunge about two years ago to add it to my diabetes regimen, and my A1c dropped by 1.5 points in three months! Say WHAT?

Injectable insulin is the only type of insulin that people living with type 1 diabetes have had since insulin was discovered. I remember seeing kids at diabetes camp using inhaled insulin, but never heard anything about it after that.

Enter Afrezza. Afrezza is a short acting insulin (spoiler alert, you still need a pump or a long acting insulin when using it) that acts faster than any injectable insulin on the market. It still blows my mind how quickly you will see it working. The onset is about 15 minutes or less.

My experience

I started taking Afrezza because I was having a lot of insulin resistance. Any time I went over 200, I was stuck there for hours, no matter how much insulin I would take. I was frustrated. Learning about Afrezza, I thought this might be the key to my insulin resistance. My path to getting this prescription though was a bit tumultuous.

In order to be prescribed Afrezza, you do need to take an FEV1 breathing test. Because it is inhaled into the lungs, they want to make sure your lungs are healthy enough to inhale the insulin. I failed my first test unfortunately, so I had to go to a specialist and take some more in depth tests. Several doctors appointments later, they figured out that it wasn’t my lungs causing the problem, it was actually my tonsils. I wasn’t able to pass a lot of air through my airways because my tonsils were blocking it. And actually causing me sleep apnea as well. I actually ended up having to get my tonsils and adenoids removed!

Anyways, I was able to start using Afrezza once they figured out the issue. I immediately noticed results. One 4 unit cartridge drops my blood sugar about 120 points. It will also cover about 20-30 carbs. These counts will definitely vary per person, but the results are remarkable. It starts working within 15 minutes, and stops a lot of my nagging high blood sugars that do not want to come down.

Helpful Hints

Here are a few things I have noticed with myself, and good to keep in mind if you are considering Afrezza. These may not be the same with everyone, but can helpful for troubleshooting.

1. I am on a pump, and it calculates for me how much insulin I have on board so I am less likely to take too much insulin. If you are used to using these feature, you need to keep in mind that it will not calculates Afrezza into the mix. It is a lot easier to stack insulin if you are using a pump in conjunction with Afrezza.
2. The results from Afrezza will be quick. I can be at 220 and take 4 units, and be at 100 within 30 minutes. When watching this on a Dexcom continuous glucose monitor, it can be terrifying, especially when you are scared of lows. A few times I saw the steep drop and freaked. Treated myself before I was even low. And then rose again. Afrezza is really good at dropping your blood sugar quickly, and then stopping just as quickly.
3. Did you take a dose and feel like it’s not working? Try a walk before taking another dose. I learned this one the hard way. I was high before a hike one Saturday and taking Afrezza while in the car driving to our destination. It didn’t seem to be working so I dosed again. As soon as my heart rate started to rise, my blood sugar tanked. Both doses seemed to work at once and I ate all the snacks I’d packed.
4. Sip water before and after inhaling, if possible. I tend to cough, which can cause not as much to get into my lungs. Water helps curb the cough and make my dosing more accurate.

Verdict: Like It

Though there was a bit of a learning curve, my overall experience with Afrezza has been good. My A1c has improved substantially and  my stubborn highs have decreased. I still use my pump for basal insulin because that is easier for me than remembering an injection. I also still use it for smaller boluses, because I am only able to use Afrezza when I am over 220 or eating a high carbohydrate meal. It will drop me too low for any corrections below 220 or a smaller carb meal. This will highly vary per person. For someone who requires more insulin than I do, Afrezza is a great option for highs and meals. I know people who do one injection of long acting per day, and use Afrezza when they are high or eating. No short acting injections!

And if you do decide to try Afrezza, don’t forget to use their savings card!