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FAST FACTS: TYPE 1
DIABETES

Adults with type 1 diabetes may benefit
from Afrezza®, the only ultra rapid-acting
inhaled insulin. Learn more about type 1
diabetes and how Afrezza® can help you.

What is type 1 diabetes and how do you get it?

In type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t make insulin or makes very little insulin, which is necessary for your body to be able to process glucose. Insulin is a hormone that helps blood glucose enter cells to be used for energy. Because people with type 1 diabetes cannot process glucose, glucose remains in the bloodstream causing high blood sugar levels.

The cause of type 1 diabetes isn’t fully understood, but it is most likely to occur due to an autoimmune reaction that destroys the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. There is no cure for type 1 diabetes, but there are ways to manage your diabetes.

What are the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes?

Common symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, feeling thirsty, increased hunger, blurry vision, unexplained weight loss, slow healing sores or cuts, and fatigue.

How is type 1 diabetes treated?

There is no cure for type 1 diabetes, but it is treatable with insulin and blood glucose monitoring. Because the pancreas can no longer make insulin, people with type 1 diabetes require insulin therapy, as part of their diabetes treatment plan.

Do I need to take insulin for the rest of my life?

People with type 1 diabetes must use insulin for life due to their bodies’ inability to produce insulin. Without insulin, glucose stays in the bloodstream causing blood glucose levels to rise. Left untreated, longstanding high blood sugar leads to complications like kidney, eye, and heart disease.

Do I need to monitor my blood sugar even if I feel fine?

Yes. Symptoms of diabetes can be mild and go unnoticed. While you may feel fine, you may reach dangerously high or low levels of blood glucose before the onset of symptoms.

What can I eat with type 1 diabetes?

A meal plan can help you manage your diabetes. It is recommended to follow a balanced diet and limit high fat, high sodium, and high carb foods. Meal plans commonly include vegetables, fruit, healthy proteins, heart-healthy fats, and whole grains and starches.

How can I prevent my blood sugar levels from spiking after eating?

Eating a balanced meal that isn’t heavily carb-based will keep your blood sugar from rising. In addition, taking Afrezza® as a mealtime insulin can help reduce post meal hyperglycemia due to its fast onset.

Should I consider using an insulin inhaler or injectable insulin for my diabetes?

With type 1 diabetes, you will need to take insulin daily. Both basal and mealtime insulin are a required part of your treatment. Afrezza® is intended to act as a mealtime insulin and must be used with a basal insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Will I need other medication in addition to Afrezza?

For people with type 1 diabetes, a basal, or “background” insulin is necessary to provide your cells with a continuous supply of glucose. This is necessary to keep your blood glucose levels consistent throughout the day. Because Afrezza® is a rapid-acting insulin, it is best used as a mealtime insulin and an add-on to your basal insulin.

Are my children at risk of getting diabetes if I have it?

Yes, but the risk of diabetes varies with gender, age, and other health factors. The exact causes of type 1 diabetes are still unknown, but genetics is believed to play a role.

Have more questions?

Get more information in our FAQs and
our easy to read Afrezza® A-Z guide

Reference:

  1. CDC What is Type 1 Diabetes? Accessed September 9, 2021.  www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type1.html

US-AFR-1752

Read more

What is AFREZZA?

AFREZZA is a man-made insulin that is breathed-in through your lungs (inhaled) and is used to control high blood sugar in adults with diabetes mellitus.

  • AFREZZA is not for use to treat diabetic ketoacidosis. AFREZZA must be used with basal insulin in people who have type 1 diabetes mellitus.
  • It is not known if AFREZZA is safe and effective for use in people who smoke. AFREZZA is not for use in people who smoke or have recently stopped smoking (less than 6 months).
  • It is not known if AFREZZA is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

Read more

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about AFREZZA? AFREZZA can cause serious side effects, including:

Sudden lung problems (bronchospasms). In a study, some AFREZZA-treated patients with asthma, whose asthma medication was temporarily withheld, experienced sudden lung problems. Do not use AFREZZA if you have long-term (chronic) lung problems such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Before starting AFREZZA, your healthcare provider will give you a breathing test to check how your lungs are working.

 

Important Safety Information(cont’d)

Who should not use Afrezza®?

Do not use Afrezza® if you:

  • Have chronic lung problems such as asthma or COPD.
  • Are allergic to regular human insulin or any of the ingredients in Afrezza®.
  • Are having an episode of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Afrezza®?

Before using Afrezza®, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

  • Have lung problems such as asthma or COPD
  • Have or have had lung cancer
  • Are using any inhaled medications
  • Smoke or have recently stopped smoking
  • Have kidney or liver problems
  • Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Afrezza® may harm your unborn or breastfeeding baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins or herbal supplements.

Before you start using Afrezza®, talk to your healthcare provider about low blood sugar and how to manage it.

What should I avoid while using Afrezza®?

While using Afrezza® do not:

  • Drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how Afrezza® affects you.
  • Drink alcohol or use over-the-counter medicines that contain alcohol.
  • Smoke.

What are the possible side effects of Afrezza®?

Afrezza® may cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including:

See “What is the most important information I should know about Afrezza®?”

  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Signs and symptoms that may indicate low blood sugar include:
    • Dizziness or light-headedness, sweating, confusion, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety, irritability or mood change, hunger.
  • Decreased lung function. Your healthcare provider should check how your lungs are working before you start using AFREZZA, 6 months after you start using it, and yearly after that.
  • Lung cancer. In studies of Afrezza® in people with diabetes, lung cancer occurred in a few more people who were taking Afrezza® than in people who were taking other diabetes medications. There were too few cases to know if lung cancer was related to Afrezza®. If you have lung cancer, you and your healthcare provider should decide if you should use Afrezza®.
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have an illness. Your Afrezza® dose or how often you check your blood sugar may need to be changed.
  • Severe allergic reaction (whole body reaction). Get medical help right away if you have any of these signs or symptoms of a severe allergic reaction:
    • A rash over your whole body, trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, or sweating.
  • Low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia).
  • Heart failure. Taking certain diabetes pills called thiazolidinediones or “TZDs” with Afrezza® may cause heart failure in some people. This can happen even if you have never had heart failure or heart problems before. If you already have heart failure it may get worse while you take TZDs with Afrezza®. Your healthcare provider should monitor you closely while you are taking TZDs with Afrezza®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worse symptoms of heart failure including:
    • Shortness of breath, swelling of your ankles or feet, sudden weight gain.

Treatment with TZDs and Afrezza® may need to be changed or stopped by your healthcare provider if you have new or worse heart failure.

Get emergency medical help if you have:

• Trouble breathing, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, sweating, extreme drowsiness, dizziness, confusion.

The most common side effects of Afrezza® include:

  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), cough, sore throat

These are not all the possible side effects of Afrezza®. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Please See Full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING, Medication Guide and Instructions for Use for AFREZZA.


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