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inhalable insulin

T

type2diabetescontrol

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I remember reading or hearing around a year ago about some medical research going on regarding an inhalable version of insulin. Does anyone know anything about this, and if so, how far the trials have gone, and whether it is likely to become an everyday option for diabetics?
 
Inhalable Insulin........These entries from 2006

http://www.hospitalpharma.com/Features/ ... ROW_ID=926

Extract:
Inhalabe insulin treatments promised to revolutionize the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes by removing the 'injection barrier' from treatment regimes. However, while inhalable insulins will see a reasonable level of uptake, they aren't the sure fire blockbuster they were hyped to be.

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/health/ ... 455797.htm

Extract:
Pharmaceutical companies hoping to make substantial profits from the development of inhalable insulin treatments for diabetes sufferers may have less of a goldmine on their hands than they believe, it has been claimed.

The Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inhalable_insulin

Extract:
A systematic review concluded that inhaled insulin "appears to be as effective, but no better than injected short-acting insulin. The additional cost is so much more that it is unlikely to be cost-effective."[6] In October 2007, Pfizer announced that it would be discontinuing the production and sale of Exubera due to poor sales.[7] Several other companies are developing inhaled forms of the drug to reduce the need for daily injections among diabetics.

I think all the Comanies involved officially gave it up. There is one Comapny I know of Mannkind Corporation which may or may not be still investigating this delivery system. There isn't a great deal of information available. Last Press Release we have is this one:

http://www.mannkindcorp.com/pressreleas ... ID=1197424

I think that if you will pardon the pun........I wouldn't hold your breath....... :wink:

Ken.
 
Hi Type2diabetscontrol
Personally I hope not.
I have been type-1 for 21 years and don't mind injections, although for children of course I can see a use for a less invasive/painful delivery system. I remember the Exubera hype, and was conerned about how accurate doses could be delivered though such a method.
Stable control is what we aim for and while the general public's misconception that the worst aspect of being insulin-dependent is the injections, that is not the case for me and many others. Needles are tiny these days, and as an old-fashioned syringe and vial user, I rarely experience pain and the whole process is akin to brushing my teeth.
Money could be better spent in my view, but that's not the way pharmaceutical complanies think; their aim is to maximize profit and to corner the market in diabetes treatment. I'm long past thinking they're out to make our lives more comfortable and easier.
Injections, inhalers, tablets, suppositories, pessaries or rub in cream, :lol: it's not the method of delivery that's the issue. Just give people something that works and doesn't make them feel like **** with side-effects- there's enough work to be done on that score surely.
Jus
 
Personally, I don't care about doing injections. Injecting has always been my least worrying/ annoying aspect of diabetes. Blood tests always bothered me more, although it's nowhere near as bad as it used to be with the prehistoric finger pricker! My first one had the needle on the outside so you could see it about to jam itself into your skin - not something I appreciated as an 8 year old.
Injections have become such a normal part of my life that I have occasionally found myself asking my boyfriend if he's done his when we have dinner. He's not diabetic...
I remember reading about insulin in a nasal spray. I'd hate that a lot more than injections. I really dislike things going up my nose. Then janabelle mentioned suppositories - I'm not gonna put my insulin up there either! Although it is a good harm reduction strategy for drug addicts who inject into veins apparently.
This week I've been using a cgms. It's deeply inconvenient, uncomfortable and if I think too much about having thus cannula in my tummy I'll have a big squeamish freak out. I'm also worried about this wire and have a temporary phobia of door handles! So far I've managed not to get stuck on anything but I've still got 2 days to go. So I have a whole new admiration for all you insulin pump users- you guys are hardcore! I don't think I could cope with that.
I still think syringes rule. Although if they can do it like they do on Star Trek where it sprays through the skin, then I might be impressed :-)
 
It can be sprayed through the skin, search for 'insulin jet injectors' for more info. They are more painful than the injections I was told when I asked about them though
 
Thanks for the replies. Very informative.
Being a food controlled type2, I'm dreading the thought of injecting myself (eventually) although understanding that many of you don't find it to be a problem gives me some heart.
 
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