Jo's Cafe

While I consider adding insulin to my own treatment of Type II Diabetes — the needle not a pal I want to get real close to — I find this prospect.

Regulators Look at Inhaled Insulin

WASHINGTON Sep 7, 2005 — A government advisory panel is set to consider the first insulin that can be inhaled rather than injected, a novel approach to keeping diabetics’ blood sugar under control without needles.

The insulin, called Exubera by its manufacturer, is pitched as a significant improvement in the quality of life for diabetics, one that could persuade some who refuse to take injections to use insulin more regularly. The insulin is being developed by Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis and Nektar Therapeutics.

According to briefing documents released Wednesday by the Food and Drug Administration, concerns about the inhaled insulin center on its long-term effects on the lungs, and whether it is effective and safe for smokers, children and patients with lung disease.

[...]

Inhaled insulin could be used to manage blood sugar levels for people with either type who need insulin injections before meals. It wouldn’t replace longer-acting insulin injections people with Type 1 diabetes need to take in the morning or before bed, according to FDA briefing documents.

During drug trials, researchers found that inhaled insulin was generally as effective as injections in controlling blood sugar levels. However, some patients who took inhaled insulin complained of coughing and a small decrease in breathing capacity.

Something to consider I must say. Would rather tote around an inhaler than a needle, vile, etc.