I have a fondness for the Junior version of the Humalog Insulin Pen.  I asked my doctor for it because it allows for measuring half units of insulin, which the regular humalog insulin pens don’t have as an option.

I like it because it allows for injecting a dose like 1.5 or 2.5 units instead of just whole units.  The ability to dial in a half dose allows for better glucose control.

I also was pleasantly surprised by its mechanism.  The button on the insulin pen is easier to push and therefore it is easier to inject with less pain.  It’s a better insulin pen, in my opinion, than the regular Huamlog pen.  It contains the same amount of insulin as the adult version and I pay the same co-pay for it.

While it’s called a “junior” pen, there’s no reason adults can’t use it.

The problem I was having is that dosing 2 units of insulin with dinner was causing me to have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) after dinner.  Dosing 1 unit, would cause high blood sugar after the meal.   I wanted to dose 1.5 units so that I could get that optimal sub 180 reading after the meal, but not take so much insulin that I got low blood sugar.

I think that I don’t use a lot of insulin compared to many others with diabetes, for three reasons, I think.

One is that my pancreas is probably still making some of its own insulin.  I have LADA diabetes, an adult onset form that’s autoimmune and I just got diagnosed with it five years ago, so I may still be in the “honeymoon” period.  The honeymoon period, is the time period after diagnosis during which your body is still making insulin, and so you don’t need to inject as much.  I have no idea how long the honeymoon period lasts, or even how much that is playing a factor here, but another way to look at it is that LADA diabetes is a progressive condition and I just haven’t had it for that long yet.  Ask me again in 30 years how much insulin I need.

Second reason is that I’m a small person.  I’m sure that has something to do with insulin requirements.  I’m just over 5 feet tall and weigh 120 pounds.

Third is that I eat a low carb diet.   I usually eat less than 200 carbohydrates a day.  I do this for a couple of reasons, but one of the biggest benefits is that it allows me to inject less insulin.  The number of units of mealtime insulin needed is usually determined by following an equation which includes the number of carbs to be eaten.  Simply, the calculation says that less insulin is needed if the number of carbs is lower.

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I had to ask my doctor for this.  I learned that this product was available on the online diabetes forum tu diabetes.

My pharmacy did not have it in stock, but they were able to get it for me the next day.  Ever since then, they’ve continued to have it in stock for me!