I saw an endocrinologist the other day, the first time I've seen one in 10 years or so. Up until that day I had been on a Humulin Regular & NPH dosing. I've been on this type of regiment since I was first diagnosed with diabetes over 21 years ago. Actually that isn't fully accurate... I was originally on a Beef-Pork Regular & NPH dosing regiment.

So, the endocrinologist went on to tell me, after I told him what I was taking, that none of the people he knew in his field use that anymore. So he immediately changed me to a NovoLog & HumaLog regiment.

I'm very reluctant to change this type of thing. I do NOT like the idea of getting a Pump (though I don't know if I fully expressed that to the endocrinologist). I don't like the idea of being attached to a machine like that (I also would probably have nightmares of a substitute teacher ripping it out, but that's another story)...

So at any rate, with this new setup, I need to take an injection 4 times a day. This is a big upstep from 2 times a day, and not something I'm pleased about. I basically need to do an injection before each meal, then one before bed. The thing is, if I'm out to eat, this means I will need to worry about all of the following...

A) I need to have my insulin and testing kit with me every time I go out if I might eat (or even if I might not just in case). This was a problem today as I forgot to grab it before I left for my lunch break at work...

B) I need to wait at the table, then get up and excuse myself just as the food arrives at the table. This is mainly that it's not appropriate to do an injection while sitting at a table with a bunch of people, in a restaurant with even more people. I also can't risk doing it early as if the food doesn't come quickly enough, the fast acting insulin will kick in and possibly leave me in a coma...

C) I need to remember EVERY DAY to refill the supplies in my little carry bag, as I can only hold a total of 4 syringes in the bag so after a day out I'll have 2 or less left in the bag...

These issues all seem like a big step BACKWARDS to me. I would hope insulin control would become easier, not more burdensome. But this is the point I'm at now, and it's very annoying to me...

Trying to find things to simplify this whole experience, the closest thing I found are the new insulin pens (maybe not so new, but new to me never the less). This would help to reduce the issues listed above (I think if you did this type of injection at a table, nobody would really notice or care). The only problem I found is that they are EXTREMELY expensive. And unfortunately I highly doubt my health insurance will cover them. At this point I can only cross my fingers, but I'm not holding my breath...

One thing I'm surprised about is that I cannot find a fully reusable pen. They do have ones where you only replace the insulin cartarage, but they do not have devices where you can say, take a normal vial of insulin then fill the cartarage as you would a syringe. A FULLY reusable pen... As far as I can tell, this is probably the only way I will ever get one... Time will tell, and until then I'll be frustrated trying to use this regiment...