Inhaled Insulin Gets Another Thumbs Up

Inhaled Insulin Gets Another Thumbs Up
Reported November 16, 2004

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study brings more good news for diabetics looking for insulin injection alternatives. New research shows inhaled insulin is effective and well tolerated in patients with type 1 diabetes. The treatment also provides glycemic control comparable to a conventional insulin regimen.

Hypoglycemia, or the abnormal decrease of sugar in the blood, was slightly lower for the inhaled insulin group in the new study, and increased insulin antibody levels were observed in this group. Mild to moderate cough was also more frequent in the inhaled insulin group, but decreased during the treatment. Similar to previous studies, researchers observed a trend toward less weight gain in the inhaled insulin group.

Overall patient satisfaction, which included convenience, flexibility, hassle, and pain, improved significantly for the inhaled group and decreased significantly for the injection group.

For the study, 335 participants randomly received either inhaled insulin with bedtime Ultralente or two to three injections of regular insulin for six months.

According to the article, inhaled insulin is absorbed more rapidly and is cleared at a faster rate than human regular insulin that is injected

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, 2004;27:2622-2627