The below article is a transcript and summary of episode 205 of the Diabetics Doing Things podcast sponsored by Afrezza® (insulin human) Inhalation Powder and MannKind Corp. The podcast features host Rob Howe and guest Eric Tozer, Type-1 Diabetic and a co-founder of Diabetes Sports Project. You can listen to the entire interview here.
Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide, including BOXED WARNING on Afrezza.com.
Rob Howe: Hello, Eric, it's great to have you on the show today. Can you start by telling us about your experience with diabetes?
Eric Tozer: Hi Rob, thank you for having me. My journey with diabetes started when I was suddenly 20 pounds lighter after a trip to Europe and my mother noticed it when I returned to America. She recognized the symptoms and took me for a checkup, and my A1C was in the twelves and fasting blood sugar was 500. It was a difficult time, but I learned so much from my experiences. Early on, I had a seizure caused by low blood sugar, but that didn't stop me from pursuing my passions. Diabetes was a shock for my family and me however, I learned to manage my diabetes through a combination of physical and mental preparation. I've been running marathons for the past 15 years and co-founded Diabetes Sports Project to help others with diabetes by sharing my experiences and knowledge.
Rob: That's amazing. Tell us more about Diabetes Sports Project and your experience as a marathoner.
Eric: DSP is comprised of the world’s elite diabetic athlete ambassadors who inspire and educate the diabetes community to achieve their goals and aspirations. Living with diabetes is like a marathon, not a sprint. It requires physical and mental preparation, and having a plan in place is crucial. The support of the diabetes community has been instrumental in helping me manage my diabetes, and I believe it's important to be involved and make friends with others who have diabetes. Social media has made it easier for us to connect with others and support each other. I love helping others and sharing my experiences with diabetes, and it's truly rewarding to see the positive impact it has on people's lives. It has certainly part of what has powered me through my marathons.
Rob: I completely agree. Can you talk about the role of technology in managing your diabetes in your life, in and out of sport?
Eric: Absolutely. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices and insulin delivery systems have made a huge impact in managing diabetes on a day-to-day basis. I personally have been using Afrezza for 7 years and have found it very helpful, especially for mealtime insulin and corrections. I work with MannKind to support the diabetes community, and I believe in the benefits of Afrezza.
Rob: Thank you for sharing. Mental health is an important aspect of a life with Diabetes, and even leaders like yourself can struggle with difficult situations. Can you share how you work through difficult situations in your life?
Eric: One of the biggest challenges I've faced is the loss of a friend to suicide. It was a difficult time for me, and I struggled with grief and even had a panic attack. However, with the support of my wife and therapist, I was able to get through it. I believe it's important to be vulnerable and share difficult experiences to help others who may be going through similar struggles. Grief is tough, but having support from friends and family, celebrating small wins, and talking about our feelings can make a big difference. Whether the difficulties are related to Diabetes or not.
Rob: I'm so sorry for your loss. That's a tough situation to go through. I'm glad you were able to get the support you needed during that difficult time. You manage to try to make the best out of bad situations and strive for greatness. Can you talk about what it means to be the best version of oneself?
Eric: Being the best version of oneself is a cliché, but it's also true and important. There are many areas where people can be great, such as video games, creativity, and sports. It's about having a conversation with oneself and finding one's own path in life, making decisions that can lead to unexpected opportunities. I believe that being the best version of oneself is achievable, but it is a lifelong journey.
Rob: That's a great message, Eric. I couldn’t agree more. Before we close, can you tell us how you find a mindset to help others?
Eric: I believe in a service mindset. I feel that serving others and helping leads to personal growth that doesn’t happen until you get outside yourself. I've had a successful career, and I'm grateful for the recognition I receive for my work helping people with diabetes, but what keeps me going is helping others with Diabetes. I hope to inspire others so they don’t have to regret not taking a chance to do what they love, and the people I work with inspire me daily. I can say I am truly excited to see what the future holds for people with Diabetes.
Rob Howe and Eric Tozer are paid spokespeople for MannKind Corp. but the thoughts and opinions contained in this interview are their own.
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). 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.
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 in place of long-acting insulin. AFREZZA must be used with long-acting insulin in people who have type 1 diabetes mellitus.
AFREZZA is not for use to treat diabetic ketoacidosis.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide, including BOXED WARNING on Afrezza.com.