Posted on 04/21/2005 9:55:08 AM PDT by kingattax
A device which allows people with diabetes to inhale, rather than inject, insulin could be licensed for use within a year, scientists claim.
Tests carried out around the UK and in the US have shown that the device is as effective as conventional injections.
Scientists told the Diabetes UK conference it would offer a choice to the 700,000 people in the UK who currently need to take insulin.
However, they said inhaled insulin would not be suitable for everyone.
The device, which would fit into a handbag, contains a blister pack of insulin in the form of dry powder.
While it will not be suitable for everyone this could make a real difference to the daily lives of many people with diabetes
To release the powder, the user presses a button and inhales the powder.
People with Type 1 diabetes, who develop the condition as children or young adults, are usually unable to produce any insulin at all.
This means they can often need to inject insulin up to six times a day to boost insulin levels.
Anthony Barnett, professor of medicine at the University of Birmingham, who has been involved in the insulin inhaler research, said the device - which delivers short-acting insulin - could cut the number of injections people with Type 1 diabetes need to just one or two.
The researchers have also looked at people with Type 2 diabetes, which usually develops in adulthood and can often be controlled with diet and medicines.
They said inhaled insulin appeared to give better blood glucose control than taking tablets.
'Choice'
Inhaled insulin is not currently licensed for use, but licence applications have been made to the European Medicines Evaluation Agency.
If the European regulator gives the go-ahead, the device could be used in the UK.
A separate body, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, would then recommend if it should be approved for use on the NHS.
Professor Barnett said the device could receive its European licence within a year.
He added: "Good blood glucose control is essential to keeping people with diabetes healthy.
"It can sometimes be very difficult trying to maintain that on a daily basis.
"For some people, one of the difficulties can be having to inject insulin up to four times a day.
"Our hope is that inhaled insulin will provide more choice, making it easier for people with diabetes to stay healthy."
Douglas Smallwood, chief executive of charity Diabetes UK, added: "Since insulin was discovered in the 1920s, injections have been the only option. That can be difficult for some people.
"Many attempts have been made to come up with new treatments and at last we appear to be close to success.
"While it will not be suitable for everyone, this could make a real difference to the daily lives of many people with diabetes."
In total, around 1.8 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes in the UK, but it is estimated that a further one million people have the condition but are unaware of it
That sounds great but it will still be necessary to check the glucose level and that will require the testing of blood, won't it.
They've been testing this for awhile. I guess it will eliminate the shots. But any diabetic will have to continue monitoring. I think this will be a big improvement for Type1s. Next step: gene implants to counter the disease.
I think I'll continue my injections. With my luck, I'd inhale the stuff and then sneeze.
Wonder how much more it'll cost, and whether it's going to be considered a preferred or non-preferred medication.
FYI
From a type 2
If I can butt in, I was really reluctant to go to insulin, but after menopause things went haywire and nothing else was working.
You get used to the shots (you can get short needles). But what I found made them almost a non-issue was going from syringes to the new insulin pens. They were a lot easier to deal with, portable, and it seemed like the needles were finer; most of the time I never felt the shot. With the syringes I used to have a lot of bruises, never from the pens. There are different types of insulin, so depending on what type your doc has you on, you can do it once at night, or with each meal, etc.
As it happens, at the New Year I got a couple of Atkins books and started reading and doing the plan. My numbers went to normal, I had to reduce my meds quickly on my own and after about 7 weeks my doctor took me off of insulin. I had always 'watched' my carbs, but w/age and slower metabolism, find that I have to be really millitant about it.
South Beach works for some, but I think it was too many carbs for me. Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution is along the same lines, but very restrictive and probably a difficult lifestyle to maintain over time. My doc is an endo and the head of the university diabetes center where I go; the center is supporting patients going on Atkins - if they do it the right way and not just do what they 'think' is Atkins via the media. It's not all eating meat. Not at all. I also use a lot of George Stella's recipes from FoodTV and his cookbook. We're actually eating very well, I'm losing weight and I'm not taking insulin 6 times a day like I was a year ago (tho I had dropped to twice a day just before I got off).
Well, I'm a Type 1 and I've been injecting insulin since I was nine months old, so I'm probably not the right person to ask about getting used to it. I've never known what it's like not to have needles stuck in me.
I take anywhere from 5 to 8 shots a day, depending on what my blood sugars are doing and what I'm eating.
The device, which would fit into a handbag, contains a blister pack of insulin in the form of dry powder.
I hope this inhaler will provide you some positive change. Best wishes.
wow, thanx for the info. Best wishes.
Thank you, and I hope you're able to get used to being diabetic. I think it's easier if it happens when you're young.
I probably won't use the inhaler. I prefer doing things the way I've always done them. You can't teach an old dog new tricks. :-)
Should be a good thing for the UK...
There is a bit of a stigma associated with syringes and Heroin use over there...
A friend is a Type 1, although not diagnosed until she was 19 years old so it was a serious adjustment! She is in her mid-20s and got an insulin pump about 18 months ago. Her doctor says it's keeping her blood sugar a lot more stable than injections were.
She says she's a lot freer in meal timing and it makes handling exercise a lot simpler. She still has to check her blood sugar every few hours, and probably always will. But novel insulin delivery systems could really make a difference for diabetics.
My doctors have been trying to get me to switch to the pump for years and I keep saying no. As I said in my last post, I'm used to shots and I'm reluctant to try anything new. I'm also concerned about having something attached to me all the time, but it doesn't sound like your friend is having problems with it. I probably should consider it because I'm having more difficulty controlling my blood sugars now than I did when I was young.
Thank you for the information.
I'm a type 2 with stubborn high sugar levels. I switched to a regimen of 4 shots a day - 1 short acting with each meal and 1 long acting at night. I have never gotten used to sticking myself. I use a syringe for the long and pen for the 3 short acting doses. The problem I have is that once every 25 shots or so it hurts like a bitch and that makes me nervous about each shot. Apparently there are little nerve bundles that get activated once in awhile.</p>
thanx for the info, best wishes
Thanks, Bigsigh! I appreciate this information. Love, Mxxx
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.