T1D Game Changer: Can kids finally say Goodbye to Insulin Shots?

0:00 Have we finally reached a point where kids with T1D can actually say goodbye to the daily insulin shot? Well, if Fresza thinks they have the answer, why don't you and I dig into this and find out what the facts really are. T1D game changer. Can kids finally say goodbye to insulin shots? If your child has type 1 diabetes, you've probably had this thought. Are we really going to be doing shots multiple times a day for the rest of their childhood? Now, imagine this. Instead of a needle, your child takes a single breath in from a tiny device, and that's their meal time insulin. In this video, we're going to look at a real needle-free insulin option that's being tested in kids with type 1. I'll show you what it is, how it works, what the

0:47 research in children actually says, and how to know if your child might be a candidate when it becomes available. Stick with me because some of the safety data and quality of life changes might surprise you. Instead of injecting insulin into the skin, inhaled insulin is a very fine powder your child breathes in through a small handheld inhaler. One fast deep breath done. Those tiny particles land deep in the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and start working quickly. That makes it useful for meals and corrections. This isn't science fiction. Aphresa, the inhaled insulin being studied in kids, has actually been FDA approved in the United States for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes since 2014.

1:33 What's new is that researchers are now testing it specifically in children with type 1 diabetes, ages roughly 4 to 17, in a large study called Inhale 1. When people say needle-free insulin for T1D kids, they're usually talking about this. Here's why parents are so interested. In the inhale 1 pediatric trial, about 230 children used inhaled insulin for meals and corrections and were compared to kids using the usual rapid acting injections. What they found A1C and overall blood sugar control were similar between the two groups. Many families reported less fear and fighting around meal time dosing. Kids had fewer sore, overused injection sites. dosing at school, restaurants, or with friends became less embarrassing.

2:20 For some kids, that can be the difference between daily battles over shots and something closer to, okay, let's just do it. Now, once you hear all that, the next question is the big one. Does this mean my child can finally be done with injections? Short answer, no. Inhaled insulin only replaces the rapid acting insulin used for meals and corrections. Your child would still need basil insulin either as a long acting daily shot or through a pump. So you're not throwing away every needle, but you might be cutting out several injections a day and reducing a ton of emotional stress. The next worry parents have is, are we trading needles for lung damage later in life? Here's what we know right now. In adults after more than a decade of use,

3:06 there's no clear sign of permanent lung damage from inhaled insulin. In the inhale 1 trial, lung function tests in children on inhaled insulin look similar to those on injections over the study period, but there are important safety rules. Kids with asthma, chronic lung disease, or COPD are usually not candidates. They need a baseline lung test before starting and repeat tests every 6 to 12 months. The most common side effect is a mild cough, especially early on. So far for children with healthy lungs who are properly monitored, safety looks comparable to injections, but we don't have 10 to 20 year data in kids yet, and that's key to remember. Hey, if you're enjoying this video, please help us out by hitting the like and subscribe button. It's a big

3:53 help for us. >> Regulators are looking at data in kids as young as four, but that doesn't mean every preschooler will be a good fit. Doctors will look at things like, can your child follow a simple breathing instruction for a second or two? Can they use the device correctly without turning it into a toy? Do they have no asthma or chronic lung problems? Are they able to tell you if something feels wrong, like chest tightness or trouble breathing? Early on, the sweet spot will probably be school age kids and teens really struggling emotionally with shots or with bad injection site issues or who need more flexibility for sports and social life. A 5-year-old might qualify, but it'll depend a lot on your

4:38 individual child and your care team. This is where it can feel like a game changer. For sports, no need to step aside for a visible injection before practice or games. The insulin acts quickly, which can help when activity is unpredictable. No risk of injecting into a muscle that's about to be worked hard. For school and social life, some kids in trials said they felt more normal around friends. At first, expect extra CGM checks or finger sticks as you and your team learn how your child responds and close communication with your endocrinologist in the first few weeks. Here are great questions to bring to your child's next visit. Would my child even be a candidate for inhaled insulin based on their history?

5:23 Do they have any lung issues that would rule this out? If it becomes available for kids, how would it fit into our current plan? What extra monitoring would we need? For my child specifically, what are the biggest pros and cons until it's officially approved for kids and your endo is on board? Stick with your current plan and use this information to be prepared. Parenting a T1D warrior is already a full-time job. Blood sugars, school, sports, sleep, and all the emotions that come with constant needles. My goal here is to give you clear, realistic information about new tools like inhaled insulin so you can make confident decisions with your diabetes team, not based on hype. If this helped, tell me in the comments.

6:10 Would you consider inhaled insulin for your child, or does the lung safety question still worry you? And if you want more videos on new treatments and tech for type 1 diabetes, hit subscribe and check out the next video in this series on screen. You and your child are not alone in this. Thanks for watching and I'll see you in the next one. >> This potential gamecher doesn't mean insulin is gone tomorrow, but it could mean a lot fewer shots and more freedom for our kids. And that's more important. If this video helped you, you can support our channel by buying us a coffee. Go to the home screen, hit the link, and we appreciate any help you can give us. We'll have another exciting video for you here in a few days. Until

6:56 then, type 1 diabetic warriors, stay well. We'll talk soon.