Inhaled Powder For Diabetes

Thanks to a medical break-through, inhaled insulin may soon replace the before-meal injections for the estimated 600, 000 Canadians who take insulin injections.

Exubera, an inhaled powder form of recombinant human insulin, for the treatment of adult patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, has been approved for use in the United States. It is the first non-subcutaneous insulin delivery option introduced since the discovery of insulin in 1920s. The inhaled insulin is the focus of trials across Canada. One such trial at St. Joseph's Health Care, London is led by Dr. Irene Hramiak, who predicts it will be at least three years before Canada grants approval. Hramiak notes that a study by the Canadian Diabetes Association showed nearly half of patients with diabetes aren't at their target blood-sugar levels. If blood-sugar levels are not properly controlled, serious complications, including heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and nerve damage may develop.
source: RD Aug.2006