| There has been lots of research in the field | | | | above. When this is inhaled through the mouth |
| of insulin administration. To keep blood | | | | the finely powdered air reaches directly into |
| sugar under control insulin is injected. | | | | the lungs. Insulin passes through the |
| Patients would prefer inhaled insulin to | | | | alveolar wall found in the lung and enters |
| injected insulin especially, when sometimes | | | | into the blood circulation. Breathing once or |
| you have to take up to 6 injections daily. | | | | twice would be sufficient. The content in the |
| The different targets tried for insulin | | | | blister pack is 20 % insulin and 80% is not |
| delivery are through the upper airways i.e. | | | | revealed. The insulin is reported to be |
| the mouth, the nose, the skin and even as | | | | stable for 6 to 24 months at room |
| suppositories. Oral delivery is not possible | | | | temperature. Proper training will also be |
| due to the acidity of the stomach and the | | | | given to people on how to use the inhaler |
| digestive enzymes of the intestines which | | | | properly. Inhaled insulin enters the |
| prevent the insulin molecules to absorb into | | | | bloodstream more rapidly than by subcutaneous |
| the blood. Inhaled insulin can reduce or | | | | injection.Blood sugar control was equivalent |
| eliminate the daily insulin injections.There | | | | when compared to injected regular and inhaled |
| are several systems in developmental phase by | | | | regular insulin. There are some concerns |
| different pharmaceutical firms with products | | | | about the long term effects of chronic |
| like AerodoseR, AERxTM Diabetes Management | | | | inhalation of a growth protein into the |
| System, QdoseR, and ExuberaR.An advisory | | | | lungs. Some experts are also worried about |
| panel to the U.S. Food and Drug | | | | people exposed to second hand smoke or lung |
| Administration on September 8th 2005 | | | | disease like asthma or emphysema especially |
| recommended approval of Exubera an inhaled | | | | since there have been minor reductions in |
| insulin for adults with type 1 or type 2 | | | | breathing efficiency in some patients and |
| diabetes. It is predicted that Pfizer would | | | | some patients reported coughing.This inhaler |
| launch Exubera in late 2006. Exubera is | | | | is also effective during cold and upper |
| produced by Sanofi-Aventis and Nektar | | | | respiratory infections but may not be that |
| Therapeutics, a California biotechnology firm | | | | effective during pneumonia. Smokers will be |
| (formerly Inhale Therapeutic Systems, Inc.) | | | | excluded from taking the drug because the |
| in partnership with Pfizer.Other inhalable | | | | cells in the lungs will be already damaged |
| insulins still on human testing are by | | | | due to smoking and their blood sugar could |
| Indianapolis-based Lilly and Alkermes Inc. | | | | fall dangerously low with Exubera because |
| and another is by the Danish firm Novo | | | | they absorb much more inhaled insulin through |
| Nordisk and Aradigm. The Lilly-Alkermes | | | | their lungs than nonsmokers.Delaying insulin |
| inhaler is small enough to fit in the palm of | | | | treatment can contribute to higher blood |
| the hand and is breath-activated, but | | | | sugar levels, which can lead to complications |
| Exubera, a larger device and it relies on | | | | such as nerve damage, cardiovascular |
| compressed air to operate. The Lilly-Alkermes | | | | problems, vision loss, and kidney |
| inhaler is expected to reach the market only | | | | disease.Anita Cherrys is a health enthusiast |
| by 2008.The delivery of the Exubera is | | | | who offers informative tips on certified |
| designed in such a way that this should be | | | | organic products. For more information on |
| small enough to get into the lungs and not | | | | health visit can reprint this article on |
| large enough to be breathed out. Exubera is a | | | | your website as long as you do not modify any |
| rapid-acting, fine dry-powder insulin. The | | | | of the content, and include our resource box |
| blister packs are loaded into the inhaler | | | | as listed above with all links intact and |
| device and a trigger is squeezed to disperse | | | | hyperlinked properly. |
| the insulin powder into the compartment | | | | |