Dana Laissle
The College of New Jersey
Dana Laissle (she/her) is a sophomore Sociology and Anthropology Student at The College of New Jersey, and a member of TCNJ's Chapter of The Diabetes Link. She has had Type 1 Diabetes for 15 years, and is interested in and passionate about advocacy and accessibility in healthcare and beyond. She also loves connecting with other people with T1D!
My name is Dana Laissle, I am currently a sophomore at The College of New Jersey studying Sociology and Anthropology. I have had Type 1 Diabetes for 15 years, I was diagnosed when I was 4 years old, almost 5. In that time, I’ve used a lot of diabetes technology. Does anyone remember the Dexcom Seven Plus System?! This thick oval receiver with only a five-foot range? It was not fun for 8-year-old me, I’m glad we’ve come so far since then.
I’ve used continuous glucose monitors, some different diabetes apps, and data tools. I almost went on the Deltec Cozmo Insulin Pump when I was 6 and have considered the Omnipod over the years. However, I have always been on Multiple Daily Injections (MDI).
Something I use currently is the InPen. The InPen is an insulin pen that connects via Bluetooth to an app on my cell phone. As you give insulin, the pen “speaks” to the app to record the dose and then can tell you how much insulin is still on board. It also calculates an insulin adjustment if you wanted to give additional insulin but already had a dose on board. Some additional features I like include the data reports for 7-, 14-, 30-, and 90-day periods, and dose reminders.
“I decided to try it because I needed the background work that a pump would do, without the aspect of wearing a pump.”
I started using the InPen in high school when my CDE/NP recommended the idea. I had never been on a pump before, I had always been on Multiple Daily Injections, so something that could streamline the mathematical elements of diabetes in everyday life was really appealing. I decided to try it because I needed the background work that a pump would do, without the aspect of wearing a pump. I did not want something connected to me, nor did I want an additional site connected to me because I already wore a Dexcom sensor.
I find it really helpful because it has a dose calculator, where you input your insulin to carb ratios and your correction factor, and it calculates for you. Before I used the InPen I had to do all the math manually. It makes bolusing and correcting much faster and easier.
“I think the InPen is comparable to a pump for people who are simply more comfortable with MDI.”
While I have not tried other insulin pen devices that have similar aspects, I do know that insulin pumps do this, and I think the InPen is comparable to a pump for people who are simply more comfortable with MDI. For some it is more flexible, and this can really finetune a lot of what we would need to do manually or “in our heads”. I think anyone who is interested or intrigued by the InPen or any smart pen, should give it a try if they are able to. I know I was a little apprehensive to hand over the control and math to an app, but I think it has been reliable, and I have learned to trust it. I sort of wish this had been on the market much sooner than just a few years ago.
Overall, the InPen helps me simplify my life with type one.
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