Is Inhaled Insulin Right for You?

Since insulin was discovered in the 1920s, the only option for using it was through injections. But now there’s Exubera, the brand name of a powdered form of insulin that’s absorbed by the lungs through the use of a hand-held inhaler.

Because this is rapid-acting insulin, usually taken before eating a meal, you can use it to replace only short-acting forms of injectable insulin. It can be used by people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, but it won’t replace the longer-acting (basal) insulin that especially people with type 1 diabetes need as part of their diabetes treatment program.

In trials, inhaled insulin was found to be as effective as injected short-acting insulin and to significantly improve blood sugar control when added to oral diabetes medications (pills) in people with type 2 diabetes.

It eliminates some injections, and is a portable, less noticeable way to take your insulin. The powdered insulin comes in 1-milligram and 3-milligram packets that don’t require refrigeration. To use it, you empty the prescribed number of insulin packets into a hand-held inhaler device that doesn’t require batteries or electricity. (The inhaler is portable, weighing only four ounces.) It also doesn’t require any special breathing technique. It’s a fast and efficient way to get insulin into your bloodstream, and can be taken within 10 minutes of eating.

What are the cons?

Inhaled insulin has been used in clinical trials for two years. Reported side effects have included a slight cough, dry mouth, and chest discomfort. It’s not recommended for those who smoke or have recently quit smoking, or for people with asthma or any type of lung disease. The FDA has not approved it for children, and it can be absorbed into breast milk.

What’s the bottom line?

Talk to your health care provider about whether inhaled insulin is a good option for you. Then ask your pharmacist about pricing, and check with your insurance provider to make it’s covered.

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