Inhaled Insulin Could Eliminate Needles
A recent clinical trial has highlighted the potential benefits of inhaled insulin as a viable alternative to traditional injections or insulin pumps for certain individuals with type 1 diabetes. Researchers found that patients using inhaled insulin (marketed as Afrezza) alongside long-lasting insulin degludec injections achieved superior control over their blood sugar compared to those following standard care protocols.
The study revealed that approximately 21% of participants using inhaled insulin experienced an improvement in hemoglobin A1C of more than 0.5%, whereas only 5% of those on standard care showed similar improvements. Dr. Irl Hirsch, the lead researcher from the University of Washington in St. Louis, emphasized that these findings could significantly impact diabetes management by offering healthcare providers and patients an alternative method for insulin delivery.
Inhaled insulin is administered in powdered form through a specialized inhaler, typically at the beginning of each meal, as explained by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The trial involved 123 adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes who were randomly assigned either inhaled insulin plus degludec insulin or instructed to continue with their current regimen of multiple daily insulin injections or automated insulin pumps. Conducted across 19 hospitals in the United States, the study spanned more than 16 weeks.
Among participants with initial A1C levels of 7% or higher, approximately 21% of those using inhaled insulin achieved levels below 7%, whereas none in the standard care group reached this target. Moreover, 19% of those who transitioned from automated insulin delivery systems to inhaled insulin saw improvements in A1C greater than 0.5%.
Despite its promising results, inhaled insulin was not universally effective for all participants. About 26% of patients in the inhaled insulin group experienced worsened A1C levels, compared to only 3% in the standard care group. Nevertheless, more than half of the study participants expressed a preference for continuing with inhaled insulin after the trial concluded.
These findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association in Orlando, Florida. It is important to note that while these results are promising, findings presented at medical conferences are considered preliminary until they undergo peer review and are published in a scientific journal.
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