An inhaled form of insulin appears to control blood sugar levels in diabetics without harming their lung function, according to a 2-year study presented today at the American Thoracic Society's 97th International Conference in San Francisco.
The inhaled dry powder insulin, designed to deliver insulin deep into the lungs, may one day allow some people with Type 1 diabetes to reduce the number of insulin injections they must administer to themselves. It also may allow some people with Type 2 diabetes, who were taking oral drugs to control their diabetes, to forego injections altogether, said lead researcher William T. Cefalu, M.D., of the University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington.
The study included 140 patients who had completed one of three 3-month studies of inhaled insulin's safety and efficacy. This 24-month trial looked at the patients' blood sugar levels and found the treatment initially controlled the levels, and maintained them over the 2-year period. The study also examined patients' lung function, and found it was not adversely affected during the course of the study.
Earlier short-term studies suggested that the effectiveness of inhaled insulin is comparable to injected insulin, and as good or better than oral diabetic therapy, Dr. Cefalu said. The researchers will continue to look at inhaled insulin's relative effectiveness as the study continues, he added.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.
There are two major types of diabetes:
* Type 1 diabetes (accounting for 5-10% of diabetes) in which the body does not produce any insulin, most often occurs in children and young adults. People with Type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to stay alive.
* Type 2 diabetes (accounting for 90-95% of diabetes) results from the body's inability to make enough, or to properly use, insulin. People with type 2 diabetes usually develop the disease after age 45. Some people with type 2 diabetes need diabetes pills or insulin shots to help their bodies use sugar (glucose) for energy.
For diabetics, keeping blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible can prevent or slow the progress of many complications of diabetes, providing extra years of healthy, active life.
Insulin can't be taken as a pill: it would be broken down during digestion just as the protein in food is. Instead, insulin must be injected into the fat under the skin for it to get into the blood. Inhaled insulin, by providing another way for the body to absorb insulin, may provide an alternative to injections for people with diabetes.
"Patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes have preferred inhaled insulin over injections and this observation has been previously reported," Dr. Cefalu said. "In addition, patients with Type 2 diabetes may be reluctant to start insulin therapy even though two or more of the oral therapies may not be controlling the blood sugar levels. If inhaled insulin provides an acceptable alternative, patients may be started on insulin sooner, resulting in improved glucose control over time and reduced complications such as eye, kidney, or nerve disease."
21-May-2001
