Fitting Apidra® Into Your Life
The tips, hints and advice in this section are from real people living with diabetes.
They have successfully included a mealtime insulin like Apidra® into
their life. And they are all using
it as an important part of their diabetes treatment plan for managing blood sugar
levels. We hope this information will help you incorporate Apidra®
into your diabetes management plan and be more successful managing your blood sugar
levels.
Working Apidra® into
your daily routine
Determining how much Apidra®
insulin to take
Exercise and Apidra®
Eating out with Apidra® mealtime
insulin
How to travel with Apidra®
Getting started on Apidra®
Working Apidra® into your daily routine
Tip #1:
I take a blood sugar test before each meal. I carry my meter with me wherever I
go. While this might seem like a lot to do, when you realize what you'll get
out of it, you just do it. After about a month, these things became habits. I don't
even think about them anymore.
Tip #2:
If I'm at home, I take Apidra® insulin just before I eat. If
I'm at work, I take it in my office and then go to lunch -- if I know
where I'm going to eat and how soon. I make sure that I expect to eat no longer
than 15 minutes later. If I'm not sure about when I'll eat, I bring my insulin
with me and take it at the restaurant.
Tip #3:
I learned as much as I could about carbohydrate counting. That made it easier for me to figure
out how to match my carbohydrate intake to my mealtime insulin intake. Don't
expect it to happen overnight. It was difficult for me and my healthcare provider
to figure out what ratio to use (insulin to carbohydrates) at each meal. That was
a great deal of trial and error. I wrote everything down in a journal about
my food intake and insulin dosing for months before my healthcare provider and I
finally arrived at an insulin to carbohydrate ratio (i.e. 1 unit of insulin to a
number of grams of carbohydrate consumed) that worked well for me. But now that
I understand it, I know that I can manage my blood sugar levels at mealtimes throughout
the day.
Tip #4:
I bring my mealtime insulin with me wherever I go. When I am at home, I take my
Apidra® just before I sit down to eat. When I'm out at a restaurant,
I wait for the food to arrive and then I take my insulin within 20 minutes after
I start eating.
Tip #5:
I always keep in mind the importance of doing what I can for my health because I
will benefit. Since I was eating 3 meals a day already, I just worked my Apidra®
insulin around each meal. As with anything it took a little while for the adjustment,
but this is another diabetes management task that can become a good habit.
Tip #6:
I learned that I could take my Apidra® within 15 minutes before or
within 20 minutes after the start of a meal. This gives me flexibility.
Tip #7:
Starting on a mealtime insulin was easier than I thought it would be. Once I decided
to do it, I started checking my blood sugar before every meal and injecting Apidra®
before I ate.
Tip #8:
Usually I eat breakfast and dinner at home and I have my Apidra®
insulin there. I keep an Apidra®
SoloSTAR® pen at my desk at work to use at
lunchtime. When I'm traveling, I take the pen with me wherever I go.
Tip #9:
I keep my Apidra® in my blood sugar meter case so that I have it
with me at all times.
Tip #10:
I check my blood sugar many times a day and always before and after meals.
Tip #11:
I use the Apidra®
SoloSTAR® pen and this makes it more convenient to take insulin
at work and when away from home. I don't have to draw up Apidra®
from a bottle. I test my blood sugar before each meal and determine the amount of
carbohydrates I will eat and how much Apidra® insulin I'll need
to take. I do try to keep a regular meal schedule.
Tip #12:
I test my blood sugar frequently to keep on top of what my levels are doing. To
tell you the truth, its just part of my routine on a day to day basis. I don't
think much about it anymore.
Tip #13:
I take one day at a time and each meal in that day as a separate event. When I first
started taking mealtime insulin, I kept my carb counting books on the counter. I kept a log of my carbs
at each meal, my blood sugar levels and insulin. At first, I tried to plan simple
meals so I could manage my carbs better. The Apidra®
SoloSTAR® pen has made it
more convenient to get started in the first week or so. In the beginning, I would
take my carb counting books and my pen with me when we ate out. Now the carb book
stays at home, but the Apidra® is always with me.
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Determining how much Apidra® insulin to take
Tip #1:
Taking pre and post meal readings with your blood sugar meter can help. You can
share this information with your healthcare provider and it makes it easier for
him or her to make suggestions about your insulin dose.
Tip #2:
All of us are different, but getting to know your own body is really important.
I keep reminding myself how important it is for me to cover my meals with insulin.
Learning how to
count carbs is a big help. Working with your doctor and possibly a dietitian
is important. The more you work to balance your food and your activities, the better
your blood sugar levels can be. It takes time, but it's worth it!
Tip #3:
In the beginning, I tested my blood sugar a lot - lots of finger sticks! For
a while, I tried to eat the same thing for a meal from day to day. For example,
I always had the same thing for breakfast. That made it easier to figure out the
dose of Apidra® and to see how my body reacted to the carbohydrates
and insulin. With my doctor's help I learned how rapid-acting insulin worked
for me and I was able to determine the ideal amount of insulin for a certain number
of carbohydrates.
Tip #4:
Don't be discouraged - determining the right dose of Apidra®
takes time. I started out logging everything I ate and then tested my blood sugar
1, 2 and 3 hours after a meal to see what the various foods would do to my blood
sugar. But also remember, no two days are the same. I've discovered that I use
my
logbook as a general guideline, not an absolute. It has really helped me
learn what to expect when eating different foods.
Tip #5:
I worked with my doctor to learn how to dose rapid-acting insulin. If I ran
into difficulty (low blood sugar), I would reflect on my intake of food, level of
activity and amount of insulin. I wrote everything down, took it to my doctor appointments
and worked with my healthcare team. Now, I take Apidra® only before
dinner. I still take my long-acting insulin and I manage my blood sugar levels
with an active lifestyle and low carb diet. I encourage everyone to find out what
works for you! Write it down and work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan
that will work for you and your lifestyle.
Tip #6:
My healthcare professional used a formula to tell me how many insulin units of Apidra®
I needed for 1 serving of carbohydrate. If I am doing a lot of walking or other
exercise, I need to cut back a little more on my Apidra® dose. I
made sure to adjust my mealtime insulin by small amounts at a time. I also kept
a log to see what foods and what activities affected my blood sugar the most. I
found it was really helpful to record all of this and talk with my healthcare provider
about it.
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Exercise and Apidra® rapid-acting insulin
Tip #1:
I learned from experience. I would check my blood sugar before I ate, then again
an hour and a half later. Ask your healthcare provider when you should test your
blood sugar after each meal. I also test my blood sugar before and after exercise.
It really teaches you the effect certain foods and exercise have on your blood sugar.
Then, you can adjust your Apidra® dose to go along with these factors.
Remember to talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program.
Tip #2:
I generally exercise 1 hour after I eat lunch. I check my blood sugar before, during
and after I exercise. If I am going to do more strenuous exercise, I will eat a
few more carbohydrates at lunch. I worked with my healthcare professional to plan
this out.
Tip #3:
I usually have a set routine that I follow. Based on my activity each day, I adjust
the Apidra® dose. By recording it in a notebook, I found
that I quickly learned what activity does to my blood sugar levels.
Tip #4:
I learned over time to balance the amount of Apidra®, food and activity.
There are still times that I increase my activity and I forget to plan for it. I
can feel my blood sugar dropping and I know I have to do something. It's beneficial
to have a snack with you all the time and talk with your healthcare provider about
the steps to take if your blood sugar drops. Be prepared!
Tip #5:
In the beginning, I tested my blood sugar before and after each type of activity
to determine the effect of the activity on my blood sugar level. I wrote these down
so I could look back at them. I use this log to adjust my Apidra®
dose. For example, if I plan to walk after my noon meal, I'd look back at my
journal and see that a 20 minute walk reduces my blood sugar level by a certain
amount. Then, I would give myself less Apidra® than I had originally
determined I needed to cover my meal. If the walk was not planned, then I would
check my blood sugar level after the walk to be sure I was not getting a low blood
sugar level. If my blood sugar was low, I'd have a snack handy! This is what
worked for me but you should always check with your healthcare professional before
adjusting your insulin dose or exercising.
Tip #6:
I learned by doing - and telling my healthcare provider about my results. It
really comes down to observing how your body handles food, exercise and insulin.
When I am exercising, I usually reduce the amount of Apidra® I take
at the meal before the exercise. I worked with my healthcare provider to figure
out how much to reduce my Apidra® dose. Remember to talk to your
doctor before starting any exercise program.
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Eating out with Apidra®
Tip #1:
I calculate
the carbs as if I were placing the servings of each item on my plate. When
the meal arrives and the servings are too large, then I ask for a to-go box
and place the unneeded portion of each item in the box - before I start eating.
If I decide to indulge in the large portions, then I give myself a corrective insulin
dose of Apidra® immediately after eating or I do an activity, like
walking, that will reduce my blood sugar level.
Tip #2:
I make an educated guess about the carbohydrates in the meal that I ordered (based
on the foods in the meal). I take my Apidra® mealtime insulin before
my meal comes. Once the meal comes, I look at the plate and compare it to how much
Apidra® I took. If I think I took too little insulin for the portions,
I just eat less, leave excess on my plate or take a "to go" box. If I took too much
insulin, I just eat an extra piece of bread and that usually works.
Tip #3:
At a restaurant, I usually wait until I have eaten to take my rapid-acting insulin.
You can take Apidra® within 20 minutes after the start of a meal
and for me, that's usually when I'm done. I sometimes take Apidra®
before I eat. If I eat more carbs than I thought I would, I take more Apidra®
to cover it.
Tip #4:
I wait until the food comes out before I determine how much Apidra®
to take. I never try to guess before I see the food. Since restaurants rarely serve
too little, this technique (and not eating everything on my plate) seems to work
well for me. My advice is to find out what works for you. The most important thing
is managing your blood sugar and figuring out the best way to do this for you will
really help you.
Tip #5:
I usually select my meal before I take my rapid-acting insulin. Based on my
meal selection, I adjust the insulin dose.
Tip #6:
I usually have an idea of what I will eat and how large the portions are at our
favorite restaurants. The salad and meat, chicken or fish do not affect the carbohydrate
count of the meal. If I am going to eat bread, potatoes, or dessert, I estimate
the carbs and take my Apidra® after I've ordered.
Tip #7:
I don't take my insulin until I see what is on my plate and estimate how much
I will eat. I have taken nutrition courses where I learned how to count portion
sizes and this really helped me to get a grip on my carb counting. Sauces on food prove to be my greatest challenge
-- "sweeter" sauces can be very high in carbohydrates and difficult to estimate.
If it is a restaurant I go to often, I write down what I ate, blood sugar readings
1, 2, and 3 hours after the meal and how much Apidra® I took. That
way, next time, I'll know what to expect. I also stay away from most starches
and opt for extra veggies instead. The exception to this is wheat or whole grain
dinner rolls.
Tip #8:
I don't take my Apidra® until my meal is on the table in front
of me. That way, I can see the portion size. I know which restaurants give big portions,
which ones have foods that I really like so I'll want to eat more of these and
which restaurants have a dessert that I really enjoy. This helps me determine my
rapid-acting insulin dose.
Tip #9:
I take my Apidra® after I start eating. With Apidra®,
I am able to see just how much is on my plate and count the carbs. If I forget to take it with my meal, I
take it as soon as I'm done. You can take Apidra® within 15 minutes
before a meal or within 20 minutes after the start of a meal. This makes it easier
for me!
Tip #10:
If you take Apidra® before a meal, make sure you eat within 15 minutes
of taking it. Don't wait too long. At a restaurant, wait until the food arrives
before you take your insulin. If you plan to take your mealtime insulin before a
meal, make sure that there is bread at the table. Most important, always check your
blood sugar before taking insulin and after a meal (Ask your healthcare provider
how long they want you to wait after a meal to test your blood sugar).
Tip #11:
At your favorite restaurants, ask for the nutritional information for the foods
you like. I found that most restaurants will gladly give it to you.
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How to travel with Apidra® rapid-acting insulin
Tip #1:
I have a very small meter and use the Apidra®
SoloSTAR® pen. Both fit easily
in a suit pocket, or on non-work days, in my coat or a small fanny pack.
Tip #2:
I keep all of my testing supplies and my Apidra® mealtime insulin
in a cosmetic bag that travels in my purse.
Tip #3:
Always check with airlines to see about taking insulin and syringes on an airplane.
Tip #4:
In the summer time, I take a small cooler for my insulin if I'm going to be
out awhile in hot weather. There are lots of different kinds of cooler bags and
ice packs. They are advertised in the back of diabetes magazines and you can order
them directly from the company.
Tip #5:
I always have a bag packed with things I might need. I carry a sandwich in case
I need to eat. I also carry juice and glucose tablets in case of low blood sugar.
I have it ready at the front door and I just throw in the perishable items, like
the sandwich, and I'm ready to go.
Tip #6:
Using the Apidra®
SoloSTAR® pen makes it convenient. I take my meter, a few
needles, and my pen wherever I go. Everything fits in my pants pocket or jacket
pocket. For longer trips, I pack enough needles and insulin for the trip plus a
couple of days "just in case." I also make sure I have glucose tablets with me at
all times.
Tip #7:
I have found that by using the Apidra®
SoloSTAR® pen, you can take your shot in public
without disturbing the people around you.
Tip #8:
I used to fill insulin syringes before going out and this seemed to work well. But
now that I'm using the Apidra®
SoloSTAR® pen, I find it more convenient to
carry and take the right dose of Apidra® no matter where I am.
Tip #9:
I use vial & syringe which I keep in the same case with my meter. I use a small
meter that fits in my pocket. That way, I can take it everywhere I go. Blood sugar
testing is so important - so you can see what your blood sugars are throughout
the day. You'll know how to adjust your food, activity and insulin to better
manage your blood sugar level. In warm climates, I will use a cooler. And remember;
always throw out the opened vial after 28 days.
Tip #10:
I always have my meter, rapid-acting insulin and "quick sugar" (like
glucose tablets, 5 - 7 Livesavers® or a juice box in my purse.
Tip #11:
I use the Apidra®
SoloSTAR® pen and I can give myself my Apidra®
very discreetly.
Tip #12:
I have several types of insulated carrying cases to fit different traveling needs
so I can keep the insulin at a proper temperature. It can really be a challenge
in Arizona where I live, especially when we're out riding in the desert. I ride
horses so I have insulated saddle bags. No matter where you like to go or hobbies
you have, there is a way to take your Apidra® with you! If you're
out a lot, you may want to consider a plug-in cooler for your car or truck.
That way, you'll have a mini-refrigerator with you.
Tip #13:
Always ask a hotel in advance (if possible) if they have a refrigerator in the room.
If they do not, ask where you can store your insulin during your stay. I have found
that most hotels are very nice about this.
Tip #14:
If I am traveling between time zones, I keep my watch on my local time until I arrive
at my destination and the next morning I adjust to the local time. Ask your healthcare
provider how they would like you to manage different time zones.
Tip #15:
I always have a letter from my physician with me when I travel. It states that I
require insulin and needles for injection and that I may require injections while
the airplane is in the air.
Tip #16:
I keep my insulin in my blood glucose monitor bag with a couple of syringes. I ride
a motorcycle. In hot weather, I use a cooler on my bike. I keep my insulin in the
bike bag under the seat.
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Getting started on Apidra®
Tip #1:
Learn about the way your body reacts after meals. I keep a daily record that helps
me know how my body reacts and then I can make decisions accordingly.
Tip #2:
Be cautious until you know how you will react. If you inject first and then leave
for lunch, make sure to carry glucose tablets. Take lots of pre and post meal readings
to gauge your own response to foods, insulin and activity. After a while, it will
become more predictable. Talk to your doctor about how often to check your blood
sugar levels.
Tip #3:
Learn how to
count carbohydrates. Ask your healthcare provider, see a dietician if you
can or go to the library and read books on it.
Tip #4:
Learn, learn and learn:
Learn how to
count carbohydrates and how to adjust your insulin intake. Learn as much
as possible from your health care team. Learn where to inject. Talk to your doctor,
nurse, certified diabetes educator, and pharmacist to learn as much as possible
about whether starting a mealtime insulin regimen may be right for you.
Tip #5:
Be aware of hypoglycemia and how to deal with it. It is much less frightening if
you understand it and know what to do. Ask your healthcare provider about it.
Tip #6:
When you first start, try to keep your carbohydrate intake consistent so you can
better judge how much insulin you need for a certain number of carbohydrates. Then,
after some time, you can start to vary your diet to see how more or less carbs affects
your insulin dose.
Tip #7:
Keep a journal! Write your daily activities, including foods, insulin doses,
blood sugar readings, stress, etc. down in a logbook. Take it with you to your doctor
appointments and go over it with him or her. Ask what you can change to get better
blood sugar levels.
Tip #8:
Do not feel embarrassed by checking your blood sugar or taking insulin in public.
If you enjoy going out to lunch or dinner, keep doing so. Remember, you are doing
what you need to do to manage your blood sugar levels. Only you are hurt by not
doing the things that you know you should.
Tip #9:
Realize that the adjustment of mealtime insulin based on meals and activity is something
that does not come with a chart or book. Everyone is different and successful dose
adjustment comes from keeping a close eye on your blood sugar levels. After a while,
you'll have a handle on your system and know how it reacts.
Tip #10:
Ask your healthcare provider about the Apidra®
SoloSTAR® pen. Although I
had a lot of experience with syringes, I really liked switching to the pen. I would
encourage people to learn to use the pen, especially if you are just starting insulin.
Tip #11:
Apidra® can be taken within 15 minutes before or within 20 minutes
after a meal has started. This allows greater flexibility in your insulin dose.
This can be beneficial if you eat less than you thought you would or more than originally
planned.
Tip #12:
Always have "quick sugar" - like glucose tablets, 5 - 7 Lifesavers®,
or a tube of cake decorating gel available in case you take your mealtime insulin
and your food is not available or you over-estimate the dose vs. what you ate.
Tip #13:
Find a certified diabetes educator in your area. Ask your healthcare provider or
visit aadenet.org.
Get as much information as possible about diabetes.
Tip #14:
Know that it takes a while to get used to mealtime insulin. Be patient, test your
blood sugar often to see how it affects you and don't be afraid to make necessary
changes. Being successful using Apidra® as part of your daily routine
is about being proactive enough to manage yourself and understand the circumstances.
Your doctor won't be with you everywhere you go and the best way is to learn
to be confident about the choices you make.
Tip #15:
Learn how to
count carbohydrates. Counting carbohydrates is a beneficial thing to learn
when starting mealtime insulin. With Apidra®, I can adjust my insulin
dose based on the amount of food that I have actually eaten.
Tip #16:
Talk to your healthcare provider, others with diabetes and friends and family who
have experience with diabetes. Ask questions, repeat the question if necessary until
you understand. Realize you will make mistakes so remain positive. Keep a blood sugar
log for the first 2 or 3 weeks of meals, activities, insulin doses and blood
sugar levels. Stay focused on learning how to use Apidra®. There
is so much to learn about diabetes, so take one challenge at a time.
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