My insulin delivery

A long-acting background (basal) insulin, insulin glargine, from Sanofi. It covers the body's steady insulin needs between meals and overnight.

• Taken once a day, at the same time every day. Me: I take it in the morning.
• Starts working in 3 to 4 hours, has no peak, and lasts up to 24 hours.
• The SoloStar pen dials in 1-unit steps.
• Me: 8 to 14 units, based mostly on how much exercise I expect that day, and the season.
• Adjusting: if glucose rises or falls more than 30 mg/dL overnight, with no food or correction in play, the background dose is likely off. I go up or down about 1 unit, with my care team's guidance.
• Me: I use the shortest, thinnest pen needles, often used for kids: 4 mm, 32 gauge, like the BD Ultra-Fine Nano.

The 30 mg/dL rule comes from basal testing guidance. The 1-unit step is my own routine. Sources: Gary Scheiner, diaTribe: basal adjustment · Basal basics (DiabetesEd) · BD: Ultra-Fine Nano 4 mm · Lantus prescribing information (PDR) · ADCES danatech: Lantus SoloStar

A tubeless insulin pump. It talks to a Dexcom CGM and adjusts insulin automatically based on glucose readings.

• The pod sticks to the skin and inserts its own cannula, so there's no tubing.
• Each pod holds 200 units and lasts up to 72 hours.
• Works with the Dexcom G6, Dexcom G7 and FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus.
• Controlled from a compatible phone or the Omnipod 5 Controller.
• The pod is waterproof up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The controller isn't.
• Me: I pair my Omnipod with Lantus for my background insulin. It's a less common combination, but it's the setup my care team and I built around how I live, and it works well for me.

Source: ADA Consumer Guide: Omnipod 5

A small insulin patch worn on the body for mealtime and correction doses. You squeeze its buttons to give a dose.

• Each click gives 2 units.
• Holds 200 units of U-100 insulin and is worn for up to 3 days.
• No tubing and no pens to carry.
• For adults 21 and older.

Source: ADA Consumer Guide: CeQur Simplicity

A prefilled, disposable mealtime insulin pen from Lilly, filled with Humalog (insulin lispro).

• Doses in half-unit steps, for finer adjustments than a standard pen.
• Me: I use the shortest, thinnest pen needles, often used for kids: 4 mm, 32 gauge, like the BD Ultra-Fine Nano.
• Each pen holds 300 units.

Source: diaTribe: Humalog Junior KwikPen

A rapid-acting insulin you breathe in at the start of a meal, using a small inhaler.

• Comes in single-use cartridges of 4, 8 and 12 units. Larger doses use more than one.
• A lung function test (spirometry) is needed before starting, then again after 6 months and yearly.
• Not for people with chronic lung disease such as asthma or COPD, and not recommended for people who smoke.
• Each inhaler can be used for up to 15 days.
• Me: I use it as needed for special occasions, like cake or a big meal. I keep only the 4-unit cartridges and take two if I need more.

Source: Afrezza prescribing information (Drugs.com)