How the iLet Eases the Mental Weight of a Diabetes Diagnosis

Have you or your loved one just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes? You’re not alone. Every day, hundreds of newly diagnosed people with type 1 face the same whirlwind of numbers, rules and emotions. Diabetes is about more than simply managing blood sugar. It’s a steep learning curve of identifying and learning ever-changing calculations for the many things that impact blood sugar levels, which—without proper support and tools—can lead to diabetes distress. That’s where automated insulin delivery for type 1 diabetes comes in. Tools like the iLet Bionic Pancreas can help ease that burden and bring peace of mind.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• What diabetes distress is and why it matters.
• How the iLet Bionic Pancreas helps lighten the mental load.
• Real-world stories from people using the iLet.
• Simple steps to get started and take back your life.

What is diabetes distress?

• Diabetes distress is a real, clinically recognized feeling that many people with diabetes experience, especially in the early days after diagnosis.
• Diabetes distress is not depression or anxiety but a specific kind of stress from the everyday demands of living with diabetes.
• Tools that lighten that burden aren’t just helpful; they’re necessary.

How the iLet supports automated insulin delivery

• The iLet Bionic Pancreas, created by Beta Bionics, is an FDA-cleared, wearable insulin delivery system designed for people with type 1 diabetes (ages 6 and up). 

What the iLet Bionic Pancreas does

• Uses data from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to adjust insulin every five minutes.
• Uses built-in automation to reduce daily decision-making.
• It is the first and only AID system that learns and adapts to all aspects of an individual’s insulin needs in real-time (vs. static, manual learning).
• Eliminates the need to manually count carbohydrates or calculate insulin doses for food.*
• Automates dosing decisions using its three algorithms to reduce daily stress from decision overload.

All of the above are breakthroughs in automated insulin delivery for type 1 diabetes, helping users spend less time calculating and more time living.

What the iLet Bionic Pancreas doesn’t do

• It doesn’t entirely eliminate the need for diabetes management: users still need to wear the pump and CGM, announce meals and monitor their overall health.
• It doesn’t give custom diet advice or live coaching.
• It doesn’t “cure” diabetes or remove long-term responsibilities.
• A doctor or care team needs to check if it’s the right fit for you.

Real-world voices: What users say

Joe Solowiejczyk, a nurse educator and therapist who has lived with type 1 diabetes for 63 years, said that wearing the iLet made him feel, for the first time, like he didn’t have diabetes.

What once felt like two full-time jobs—his life and his diabetes—had finally narrowed to one: living fully, with clarity, calm and gratitude.

“Almost immediately I felt the burden of self-care and management lifted from my shoulders,” says Solowiejczyk. “I actually had tears in my eyes several times over the first two weeks. Tears of gratitude for the iLet to be available and for Ed Damiano and Steven Russell and the many others who developed it, as well as tears of relief for finally feeling like I had become ‘unemployed’ in the most positive way.”

Joe’s experience highlights how automated insulin delivery for type 1 diabetes can transform not just numbers, but also the emotional experience of living with the condition.

How to start with the iLet Bionic Pancreas

Getting started is simple:

1. Enter your body weight.
2. At mealtime, choose “Usual,” “Less,” or “More”—indicating the amount of carbohydrates in your meal.

The iLet adapts over time. You don’t need perfection at every moment. The iLet allows you to spend more time doing what you love, and less time doing math.

The iLet is now contracted with all major pharmacy benefits managers, and approximately 1 in 3 new iLet users go through the pharmacy channel.

Learn more about the iLet system here.

Support for the diabetes learning curve

Need more support with the diabetes learning curve? The Beginner’s Guide to Thriving with Diabetes—available in English and Spanish, for type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes—offers easy-to-understand support as you learn to live with diabetes. 

The Beginner’s Guides include bite-size information and action steps to try, plus a ton of insights from other people who have been living with diabetes for months, years and decades. We have your back.

This content was made possible by Beta Bionics, Inc., an active partner of Beyond Type 1. Beyond Type 1 maintains editorial control over its content.

Individual results on the iLet may vary. The iLet Bionic Pancreas is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Consult with your healthcare provider to determine what’s right for you.

*User must be carb aware.