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Meet Apidra® patient - Doug Arrington
Diabetes runs in his family. But with the proper treatment plan it does not have to run his life. |
I was preparing for minor surgery in March 2000 when I had some lab work done. The tests showed that my fasting blood sugar and A1C were extremely high.
Even so, I had no other physical symptoms of diabetes. Still, I was not particularly surprised when my doctor told me that I had Type 2 diabetes. My father's brothers and sisters had all developed diabetes as adults. I was most concerned about the long-term effects of the disease. I'd seen the complications my relatives had experienced. As a nurse practitioner, I'd also seen what uncontrolled diabetes could do to my patients.
I made a decision then and there to do everything I could to control my disease. I started walking two miles every evening, sometimes more. To help me, my doctor put me on a short-acting insulin, as well as two oral diabetes pills. After six months, my blood sugar had stabilized, and my doctor took me off the short acting insulin. I did well on the pills alone for almost two years, until my blood sugar was no longer under control.
For the past four years, I've been on Lantus® (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection), a once-a-day basal insulin, along with the 2 oral pills. At mealtime, I also began taking the short-acting insulin again. All along, I've checked my blood sugars six to eight times per day. My biggest concern was the spikes I'd often experience after a meal, when my blood sugars would jump higher. I spoke to my doctor about a rapid-acting insulin that could help minimize those spikes, and he prescribed Apidra®.
Because Apidra® is a "mealtime" insulin with a rapid onset and short duration, it's done a great job of keeping my blood sugars within normal levels after meals. I inject it within 20 minutes after I eat. Within five minutes, I begin to see a decrease in my blood sugar. With Apidra® as part of my diabetes treatment plan, I'm back to blood sugar levels that are under control.
Because I take it after I begin to eat, it's easier to identify the amount of carbs I've actually taken in, and can adjust my dosage accordingly. I love the dosing flexibility with Apidra®!
Apidra® has helped me manage my mealtime blood sugar levels. I have a very demanding job as the manager of anesthesiology and pain management at a large university hospital. Between my job and my two miniature schnauzers, I continue to have a very active and busy life.
Apidra®, along with frequent blood sugar checks, has turned out to be an important tool to help me keep my blood sugar in control.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR APIDRA®
Apidra® is for adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes for the control of high
blood sugar. Apidra® should normally be used with a longer-acting insulin. Do
not use Apidra® during a low blood sugar reaction (hypoglycemia) or if you are
allergic to insulin glulisine.
Apidra® differs from regular human insulin by its rapid onset and shorter
duration of action. When used as a mealtime insulin, Apidra® should be given
within 15 minutes before or within 20 minutes after starting a meal. Due to the
short duration of action of Apidra®, patients also require a longer-acting insulin
or insulin infusion pump therapy. Any change of insulin should be made cautiously
and only under medical supervision. Tell your doctor about all other
medicines and supplements you are taking. Glucose monitoring is recommended for
all patients with diabetes.
Possible side effects may include low blood sugar; injection site reactions, such
as changes in fat tissue at the injection site; and allergic reactions, such as
itching and rash. Less common, but potentially more serious or life-threatening,
is generalized allergy to insulin, including anaphylactic reactions.
When used in a pump, do not mix Apidra® with any other insulin or liquid.
If the pump or infusion set does not work right, you may not receive the right amount
of insulin. Hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or ketosis can happen. Problems should
be identified and corrected as quickly as possible.
Exercise or activity level may change the way your body uses insulin. Check with your healthcare provider before you start an exercise program because your dose may need to be changed.
Click here for additional important information for Apidra®.
