Inhaled Insulin for Diabetes- Too much hype! Part 1

Insulin has been the standard treatment of diabetes for the better part of the century. Unfortunately it can only be administered via an injection. The chief reason why insulin cannot be taken as a pill is because it is rapidly destroyed by acid in the stomach. Over the years, many types of insulin formulations have been developed, but so far none have worked and insulin injections remain the cornerstone of diabetes treatment.

In the last decade, however, insulin which could be inhaled did become available. Known as Exubera, this inhaled short acting insulin was used to treat both type 1 and 2 diabetes.

Exubera is powderized insulin and came in prepackaged formulations. The package containing the insulin is placed inside a specially designed inhaler. The inhaler is placed in the mouth and activated. The insulin which is inhaled as a fine powder usually starts to work within 10-15 minutes.

Exubera only contained the short acting insulin form. It worked anywhere from 3-6 hours. Most individuals used Exubera 10 minutes prior to a meal.

Inhaled insulin was not for everyone and each individual has to discuss the pros and cons with the physician.