I’ve been using Affrezza lately for bolus and corrections and have been happy with it. Now I’m getting ready for a road trip and am trying to figure out how to efficiently carry all the Affrezza I will need for 2 weeks. So far the best idea I’ve heard is ziploc bags, organized by dose size. Has anybody done anything more purpose-built than multiple ziploc bags?
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The zip lock bags will not do well with storage when the Afrezza cartridges are outside of the sealed three packs. There are a few options, a sealed container like an Rx bottle with a desiccant packs inside the bottle work well. The Afrezza needs to be kept absolutely dry once the cartridges are removed from the foiled covered three packs. My preference is using a seal a meal bag packed individually.
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The other potential problem is being outside the refrigerator. Once it’s not refrigerated, it’s not supposed to be used after 10 days in the sealed foil 3 packs. I’m sure it might be good since they are always playing it really safe whenever they give guidelines, but for how long would be the question.
Copy and paste, I couldn’t get it to post the link. It’s a PDF file
file:///C:/Users/hawth/Downloads/US-AFR-1686_Storage-and-Handling-Guide-Digital-2021.pdf
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They’re pretty forgiving.
The only thing that ever gave me any concern is if you’re in high humidity and have the blister pack opened, it seems like excess moisture could lead the powder that’s supposed to easily aerosolize into a clumping situation—- I’ve never actually seen or experienced ill effects from this, but it’s something that’s weighed on my mind.
In general I’d say just treat it like other insulin. If it’s hot, don’t leave it in the blasting Sun, etc. if a blister pack is open, maybe put it in a ziplock bag.
Glad to hear it’s working well for you
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Id also love to hear your own thoughts on its dosing… it’s something I’ve posted on ad naseum but really felt unheard and not understood on. Welcome your thoughts and observations
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Dosing has been a bit easier for me on corrections and a little funky on meal bolus. I’ve been struggling with an increased TDD since late fall, likely caused by gaining some unwanted weight and that has screwed up my I:C ratio. The following is how I am dosing nowadays…if I can take off about 10 pounds I will probably be using lower doses.
The packaging says to estimate a 4 u capsule is equivalent to 2.5 u injected fast insulin, I have been experiencing close to that but developed my own rule of thumb as 4u capsule = 2 units injected Fiasp or Lyumjev. For correcting a rise that is headed above 150 I take 1 capsule and if I am correcting a rise over 180 it’s 2 capsules. Repeat about 1 hour later if flatlining higher than desired range.
For meals, lately I’ve been using a total of 12 u capsules (= 6 or 7.5u injected) for breakfast and dinner which are often 65 or so slow carbs…but adding a 3 u injected bolus with the Omnipod to give a little bolus tail a few hours later. The Affrezza is in and out of my BG much faster (by 2 hours or so) at the tail end than Fiasp or Lyumjev for me. If I don’t take that 3 u injection with the meal it’s almost guaranteed I’ll be needing a correction 90 minutes after the meal. Alternately I’ve tried a temp basal for about 2-3 hours after eating to provide a tail but not much success with that one.
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@Sam I could not get a handle on Afrezza dosing – it was definitely not 4:2.5 for me, but was also quite chaotic b/c I also know that I coughed out some? a good portion? of it each huff. I have given up on it altogether. I know that Ginger Viera on Instagram (Diabetes Nerd on YouTube) uses Afrezza and could be a good resource for this.
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Afrezza in 4u cartridges is not the same for all, and may vary throughout the 24 hours, and your BG and IOB. A 4u Afrezza can be the same as 1.5 - 2u of injected u100 insulin.
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Thanks for that! She is indeed a great resource
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@Sjwprod and @John58 Why not use the containers they come in? Is the original packaging that inefficient? I’m interested because I have it down to talk over with my Endo in a couple weeks. @Marie Another item, I wasn’t aware Afrezza had to be refrigerated, tried to follow your link, but couldn’t, I found the same info at: FAQs - AfrezzaAssist - Your Questions Answered | Afrezza FAQs @John58 Thanks for the dosing info; always good to hear another’s experience even understanding YDMV!
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The original three pack bubble pack keep it dry, open that package can expose the dry Afrezza to moisture and as a result it cannot be absorbed into your lungs.
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@TomH For a week or two trip you’ll end up with multiple stashes of the tiny Afrezza capsules. Luckily they are color coded (green = “8u”, blue = “4u”).
They are shipped in sealed foil bags, in turn boxed together with paperwork and two plastic capsule sniffing tools. I ended up unboxing everything needed for my trip and then sorting into 3 batches. Each batch having a combo of 4’s and 8’s.
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Stashed away with extra spares of everything: Foil bags unopened, a few spare capsule sniffing tools. This is the stash of double everything in case the day to day supplies are lost, stolen, ruined etc.
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Foil bags opened and partially used (pictured). These usually stay in a room temperature pouch, left behind in the hotel room.
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Capsules in blister packs (3 per pack) in a ziploc bag with 2 capsule sniffing tools. (pictured) Enough for a few days worth of meals and corrections. Some of the blister packs are opened to use 1 or 2 capsules but I try to use the remainder the same day the blister pack is opened. This baggy goes with me 24/7 and I try hard not to expose it to too much direct sun.
Another habit I’ve been working on: empty capsules go directly to trash, never back in the baggy. Avoids confusion in many ways!
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No concern of the vacuum sealer vacuuming some of the powder out?
None whatsoever, same as it’s packaged when you get it. The cartridges are sealed from releasing the powder until the cartridge is opened in the inhaler as it slides the part with the powder to the open position.
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I get it I’m just impressed that the mechanism is vacuum-tight
Afrezza has no air in it , sucking out the air has no impact on the powdered insulin.
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