First Inhaled Insulin

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (July 25, 2006) – If you have diabetes and must inject insulin at mealtime to regulate your blood sugar levels, your daily routine soon may get easier. A new inhaled insulin is expected to be available soon, eliminating the need for these frequent injections for many people, says family medicine physician Jeffrey Brown, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.

"The need for mealtime injections of insulin interferes with daily activities and is one of the most difficult things to keep up with when you have diabetes," Brown says. "Taking in insulin through an inhaler will be welcomed by anyone with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who currently needs mealtime doses."

The inhaled insulin, called Exubera, is a short-acting (it works fast and does not last long), powder form of regular insulin. It is breathed in using a specially designed inhaler and absorbed though the lungs. It works fast to keep blood sugar levels at a healthy level, says pharmacist Jay Needle of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Release of the inhaled insulin is waiting final FDA approval.

"So far studies have shown that Exubera is as effective as injections in delivering short-acting insulin," Needle says. "Most people who need mealtime doses should be able to use it, but it will not be prescribed for anyone who has lung disease or breathing problems that would interfere with it being absorbed into the lungs."

Exubera is only for the mealtime doses. It does not replace the longer acting injections that are needed once or twice a day by many people with diabetes. Also, you'll still need to test your blood sugar level at regular times.

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