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#339: Inhalable Insulin, Diabetes Costs, and the Truth Doctors Don’t Talk About
Description
In this episode, Coach Ken and Graham dive into a wide-ranging conversation about diabetes management, inhalable insulin, and the importance of taking ownership of your care.
Ken shares his experience getting Afrezza (inhalable insulin) approved again through insurance and how it’s dramatically improving his blood sugar stability. The discussion explores how Afrezza works differently from traditional rapid-acting insulin and why some people living with diabetes use it as a powerful tool for correcting highs quickly.
The conversation also moves into several old-school diabetes practices—from the 15-15 rule for treating lows to how people managed blood sugars before CGMs existed. Ken and Graham reflect on how diabetes care has evolved and why experimentation and personal data play such an important role in finding what works.
Later in the episode, they discuss the real financial burden of living with diabetes, breaking down how medical costs, supplies, insurance deductibles, and daily management tools add up each year.
Ken also shares why advocating for yourself during endocrinologist appointments is critical. Rather than relying solely on your doctor to solve problems, the most successful patients come prepared with questions, trends, and data that help guide productive conversations - and take ownership of their own care.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- What Afrezza inhalable insulin is and how it works
- Why Afrezza can help correct high blood sugars faster than traditional insulin
- The pros and cons of using Afrezza with MDI or other insulin strategies
- The classic 15-15 rule for treating low blood sugar and how to adapt it
- How T1D management worked before CGMs existed
- The real cost of living with diabetes each year
- Why advocating for yourself at doctor appointments is essential
- How preparation and data can improve your endocrinology visits
- Why diabetes management requires experimentation and personalization
"There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Our job is to figure out what works for us and build a system that keeps our blood sugars stable.”
Additional Resources:
🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📞 Simplify Your Diabetes - Free Call: Book Now
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