Researchers, doctors, and people with diabetes all agree that insulin injections are good for managing diabetes. Wouldn’t it be better to get insulin into the body without injections? Insulin can’t be made into an oral medication, so can it be obtained by inhalation?
How does inhaled insulin get into the body?
The idea of inhaled insulin has been around for decades. It wasn’t until the 1990s that researchers made it possible.
A fine mist of insulin powder can be inhaled into the lungs through an inhaler similar to the one used by asthma patients. It then passes through tiny blood vessels into the bloodstream.
How did early inhaled insulin work?
In September 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first inhaled insulin to be marketed for use by people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
But the maker of the drug pulled it from the market in October 2007 because it did not seem to be popular with patients. People thought the inhaler was too big and bulky. Later, the FDA expressed concern that insulin inhalers could cause lung disease, including cancer, to develop.
What inhaled insulins are currently available?
In June 2014, the FDA approved a rapid-acting inhaled insulin for marketing. It is an insulin inhaler that can be given before a meal and has a preset dose and a fast onset of action.
This insulin is not intended for diabetic emergencies, such as ketoacidosis. Common side effects are hypoglycemia, cough, tickling or pain in the throat.
For people with type 1 diabetes, they still need to take long-acting insulin to help control their blood sugar.
Inhaled insulin should not be used if you smoke or have lung disease, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.