After using the MiniLink for a month now, there is one thing I wish I had in my diabetes toolbox.  A quicker, shorter acting insulin.  Yes, even faster than the Novolog I am using now.  I estimate Novolog peaks at around 1 ½ hours after bolusing.  This is not nearly quick enough to fight off the rise in my BG when eating a meal that has a high glycemic index.

I have been trying some techniques from the days when I used to give myself injections.  That is, to inject (now bolus) prior to a meal.  This is a concerted effort to curtail high BGs right after meals.  This is a noble goal since this is what I think contributes the most to my A1c being higher than I wish.  But before using the MiniLink, this was not something I even considered.  Being able to see my blood glucose in a chart form real-time allows me to fine tune the flattening of the peaks. And I have been able to do this with some success.  But I must attribute this success to one specific feature found on the pump’s screen.  That small tick mark along the x-axis (horizontal axis) of the graph indicating when a bolus was given means all the difference.  This is extremely valuable!  For example, if I eat a known amount of carbohydrates and bolus exactly at the time I begin eating, I will see the graph rise.  Fairly standard you would agree.  But right about 1 ¾ hours after taking the bolus, I will see the graph turn down and continue its trend toward normal.  The 1 ¾ is the 1 ½ peak in the insulin plus the 15 minute lag time of the sensor reading.  This is incredibly useful in predicting my future blood glucose and then reacting accordingly for meals I did not have a good estimate of carbs.

Another feature but one I use as a flag to myself are the up and down arrows beside the BG reading.  The up and down arrows signal me to look closely at the 3 hour graph and inspect the trend.  I then incorporate the boluses given and determine an an amount for an additional bolus if necessary.  I am however still working my techniques out.  Right now, If my BG goes over 180, I know that the bolus I gave will not cover the meal.  I then give myself an additional ½ unit.  I then will check again in another 30 minutes.

My feeling is if I had a quicker acting insulin, I could react to rising BG readings and see my results much quicker.  With the insulin I have now, I must always be content that if my BG climbs high, it will not go down speedy quick.

I have spoke to some people and read some about Apidra insulin but I am not completely sold yet.  I have heard some success stories and others who have not seen the same benefit.  Like anything else, a change in any single variable in your regime must not be taken lightly.  I figure, I want to concentrate on the use of the MiniLink and deal with the Novolog reaction time rather than throw another variable into the mix.  I have though put Apidra on the list of things to discuss with my doctor during the next visit.