Week 14-And with the upcoming holiday next week, more and more Afrezza Users repeating the word FREEDOM. Freedom from the daily grind and all-encompassing activity of diabetes management. Freedom from 5 or 6 needles a day down to one in most cases (Toujeo). Freedom for our families who worry about us less and less as they see almost immediate positive changes in our lives. As Howard tweeted over the weekend–“I can finally eat and enjoy family gatherings, BBQ’s, and holidays without worrying if my BS will spike into the two hundreds for hours”.  Or how about Eric who tweeted “Best Father’s Day ever! Non-diabetic numbers and being able to live your life”.  For the many people I talk with on a regular basis, Afrezza is their answer and the ultimate key to a new found freedom.

As I look over the week, I’m seeing and hearing about so many positive developments–many thank you emails from people who prefer to remain anonymous with personal best A1C stories, and a new website overhaul for Afrezza–www.Afrezza.com, as well as more media awareness. The challenging part will be helping consumers understand that Afrezza is not the Inhalable Version of current insulin (ie. Novolog or Humalog)–and that it is clearly superior in the “real world”, with truly better pharmakinetics that actually mimic a normal human pancreas. The fact that it is inhaled and non-invasive is just another additional benefit! There is a good portion of Type 2 Diabetics who are prescribed GLP-1 (Glucose like Peptides) drugs (Tanzeum for example), that are a once per week injectable diabetes treatment (Type 2 only), and the side effects of possible thryoid cancer and pancreatis is nothing to joke about. Seems to me that the body needs insulin and not a chemical substitute forcing the body to perform in a different way than Mother Nature intended. I think in the years ahead, this will be why Afrezza wins out over all other drugs–it’s insulin, and from personal experience, it matches how the body worked before diabetes, and probably why I hear many, many people tell me it feels like their pancreas is working again, and that they personally feel tons better, too.  For icing on the cake–the bottom line result seems to be that near or non-diabetic A1C numbers are achievable– as you can see firsthand amongst everyone in our group. Final proof–almost every email I receive ends with “I can’t wait to see what my A1C will be at my next doctors appointment”.  Who ever says that? It’s like being a member of Weight Watchers  knowing you’re going to lose a record number of pounds and really want to show up for the next group weight in!  Proud moment when you achieve a new personal best. That seems to be what is happening in the world of Afrezza Users out there. We’ve proven it here week after week with almost non-diabetic numbers and personal best A1C’s that none of us could achieve on injectable insulin. You might happen to notice this week, once again, every one in the Type 1 Group is in “normal” non-diabetic blood sugar range and in the upcoming month, we expect a few more people to possible achieve A1C’s in the 5’s–without any severe lows. Applause, Applause!

Here is the Type 1 Chart for this week. Notice Laureen is taking a well-deserved vacation and will report her numbers again after she gets back:

As for the our Type 2 Group–Spiro is also on vacation, and we all can’t wait until he gets back and tells us how Afrezza worked for him on the cruise. Guessing he converted every diabetic he met to Afrezza with his engaging smile and wonderful personality. Afrezza really is a fantastic solution. Brian and Hillard continue their Afrezza journey with great results and are extremely pleased with how Afrezza is working for them.

Here is the Type 2 Chart for this week:

What surprises you most about the Week 14 data?

After 14 weeks of reporting actual results from other users, not just myself, I realize I’m not alone, and there are many others who have “dialed it in” better than I have, which is so encouraging.  When I began writing about Afrezza my goal was to help at least a few other diabetics, and I am deeply humbled at the response from inside and outside the diabetic community that I have received.  Many people wonder how do you do it–week after week, month after month?  First,  I am honored to “pay it forward” to all other diabetics–I certainly never imagined that I would become a diabetic sixteen years ago when my whole life changed. Second, I started writing about Afrezza after so much misinformation (ok, actually lies) that I felt compelled to tell the real story, even if it meant sacrificing nights and weekends and some opportunities to do it. I’ve discovered a personal joy and satisfaction in helping people, and that finding “my purpose” through some personal horrible circumstances was indeed worth it.  Every time I read the words “life-changing” (which I do often) I am thankful and grateful for the people who risked so much of their time and talent to bring this paradigm changing drug to market. I wish it could’ve been sooner especially for all the families who have lost loved ones as a result.  For that I am glad to make the difference that I was intended to.  My prayers now are for the Type 1 kids who could benefit and for the world to know Afrezza. Lastly, I am also very thankful to all my colleagues in the Afrezza Users Group who joined me in this mission, and who report their experience every single week knowing they get nothing in return but possibly a “thank you” once in a great while. Join me in sending them a note this week if you are so inclined–that they are ultimately working for the “freedom” of diabetics everywhere. Thank you Group!

What is the Afrezza Users “Real Life” Results Group?

It is a group of Afrezza Users who use a Continuous Glucose Monitors (mostly Type 1’s) seeking tighter diabetes control and measuring the time spent in each blood sugar range. Laureen uses “finger prick” measurements throughout her day to measure her blood glucose levels while the rest of us are using CGM’s (continuous glucose monitors). It is NOT a competition between T1’s and T2’s nor among any of us and was only started so people could understand and see the inherent benefit of why Afrezza provides better control and higher patient satisfaction for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics over any our previous regimens. In essence, this is a “real-world” trial of “do your best”, and have good and bad days, but keep track of it all, and let everyone know the results. Well, the results thus far are clearly and unbelievably positive for Afrezza.

Why are you doing this?

There has been so much discussion about the FDA Afrezza Drug trials and why I feel as a participant in the Affinity 1 trial, there were significant “hold backs” as to why we were not able to materially outperform Injectable Insulin because of the protocols on the trials. This is no longer the case!

To Summarize here are just a few of the hold backs why Afrezza didn’t get to show how great it works:

• Afrezza Dosing was only changed approx. every 6 weeks, and not flexible dosing depending on meal
• No CGM’s allowed
• Time in Zone not measured
• Patient Quality of Life not measured
• Brand new Afrezza users vs. Very experienced Injectable users (what if it was brand new injectable users vs. experienced Afrezza users—would that be fair? No-they would stop the trial right away because it would be a TKO/referee stops contest victory for Afrezza which we are already proving by “real-world” experience.)

What would you like to express to everyone out there considering Afrezza or to any doctors considering prescribing Afrezza for their patients?

My opinion is that Afrezza is a “life-changing” drug. It improved my life and every single person in our “real life” group which gives me hope that diabetics everywhere can be helped by this insulin therapy. I wish the same for you or any other diabetic you know—to enjoy a better, longer and higher quality of life! Please demand to try Afrezza from your doctor, and see for yourself!