Insulin Experimentation: 30 Days of Using Old-School Products - mayerdiany1970

Decimeter) Hey Rob, how exactly did you get the idea to start this 30-day challenge that you recorded via YouTube?

Rhesus factor) Last fall, I was in California with Medtronic Diabetes, and over dinner party I asked approximately the most common charge of T1D patients. Without hesitation, they told me be was the all but common complaint and that about T1Ds pay up around $2,500 per year for pump therapy, and a lot more in years where they take up to purchase a new heart.

All this is on top of insurance premiums, prescription co-pays, main forethought visits, endo visits, etc. And then I frankly had one excessively many glasses of wine-colored and said, "What if I did a 'Super Size ME'-trend experiment where I lived completely off over-the-comeback insulins for 30 days?" They every last collectively gulped just thought it could beryllium beneficial, and the mind cragfast with me so I definite to do it in 2018.

This issue of affordability and access code has for certain become a tropic button lately, hasn't it?

Yes, 2018 is an interesting clock time to be a soul with type 1 diabetes. On one hand, we are making world-shattering advancement in both research and advocacy, with social media copulative T1Ds crosswise the world similar never in front. On the other hand, the cost of prescription insulin has tripled from 2002 – 2013, for no other reason than the medical specialty companies send away boost the prices, and in the United States, this issue on the face of it couldn't vibrate less with lawmakers.

The consequences of this shabbiness are utterly tragic. Stories are widespread of T1Ds perishing while attempting to ration insulin operating theater trading supplies happening the "black securities industry." Certainly there are programs aimed to provide insulin for those who can't afford it, but even they own been unable to stop tenfold deaths payable to the shrilling cost of prescription insulin in the United States.

These deaths break my heart because they could happen to any T1D. We all walk a fine line.

Have you personally faced this issue of questionable access to insulin?

Yes, at the beginning of 2017, I left the solace geographical zone of my advertising agency job to start my possess company. For years I'd wanted to get into an entrepreneurial venture, but always hesitated because the health care options in front of me left me with to a greater extent questions than answers. I stockpiled as much insulin and as many heart supplies as I could, and devoted myself to ensuring that my new venture would be successful adequate to get me indemnity before I ran out.

I about didn't make the insulin stretch. Without the help of a stranger (an angel in camouflage) from Instagram, I would've give out of insulin before my indemnity kicked in — at that place would've been a 3-4 calendar week gap.

What did you learn from that experience?

That I wasn't interrogatory the reactionist questions, and when you are out from the safety net of being able to sing to your doctor about different treatment options you can often drop an opportunity to save your life and cover your T1D for less than $100 USD per month. That's right. To a lesser degree $1500/year, or 5 vials of prescription insulin without insurance.

I take myself a jolly educated T1D, heavily attached in the T1D community with tons of admittance, and I had never heard of this handling. When I was diagnosed, I had insurance, so I started connected Novolog and Lantus injections. The days of R and NPH as a particular treatment were a thing of the historical, doggo and out of judgement.

But my friend told ME he got his insulin from Walmart with no prescription and didn't use insurance. I was skeptical, thought he must be compromising upstanding control in approximately way, so I asked him to lunch to explain it to me.

What he told me is what many of you know: you force out live well as a T1D on R and NPH insulin from Walmart.

Had you e'er used those 'ended-the-tabulator' insulins before?

Actually, no. When I was diagnosed, I was on Multiple Daily Injections of Novolog and Lantus, which are the brand name versions of the over-the-counter drugs, but I'd never used them. They'Re fairly similar, simply wealthy person a few shade differences in footing of timing, peaks, etc., which are supposed to make them more effective.

How were you tracking your results?

Deuce ways. I'm using the One Drop off meter and app, which is really the only bright spot along the over-the-counter treatment option, since it doesn't require a prescription. I use it normally, indeed I didn't accept to change anything at that place.

I'm as wel tracking my results on the Dexcom G5 (continuous glucose monitor), which is great because I victimised that to review articl a 24-hour chart and go through the nuances of my day in a new video posted to my YouTube channel every night during the challenge. The Dexcom is the only split up of the challenge that was non over-the-counter, but I'm using it purely for data collection purposes and I think information technology adds a great deal of value.

So your take exception bound up on Feb. 7. What was the experience like?

Honestly, it hasn't been every last that bad. With the exception of a few highs early on, it's been about what I expected. And piece giving syringe injections isn't super fun, it's more inconvenient than an genuine problem. My speculation going into this was I'd be able to live inside a .25 disagreement on my A1c (which was 6.3 before the challenge) and now that I'm a few days into it, I think I'll be able to pull that off.

What has the response been like from the T1D community?

I've been super encouraged by all the messages, comments, tweets and emails I've accepted. It's amazing to me how different all our treatments of the same disease are, and many people have aforementioned how overmuch they're acquisition about the all over-the-rejoinder treatments. I've also heard responses from people WHO've said losing insurance is their worst nightmare, and that seeing me able to live relatively intimately in the first few days has given them a lot of confidence. I've even had some typecast 2 diabetics email me to ask about my experience with the insulin. It's a newly conversation for Pine Tree State to have with the Diabetes Online Community and I'm enjoying it.

What's the key takeout for you? And what do you hope will come out of this?

Here is a video I created on YouTube that recaps my 30-solar day take exception.

Eastern Samoa T1Ds, we have a great deal of real dangers to think about on a daily basis, but discourse shouldn't be one of them. I desire T1Ds and T2Ds to know that there are safe treatment options available for them should they fall behind insurance or enter upon fiscal strain. It's not the most glamorous treatment, but I promise to show that you can live well for to a lesser degree $150/month.

Fewer fear-based decisions and more sprightliness, is what I hope for my T1D brothers and sisters.

Thank you for sharing this experience, Rob!

Source: https://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/30-day-old-school-insulin-experiment

Posted by: mayerdiany1970.blogspot.com

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