For diabetic patients, inhaled insulin is just as effective as injections and pumps.

Most of the 38 million people living with diabetes In the United States, daily injections or insulin pumps are used to keep glucose at safe levels – but new research suggests a third option could be just as effective.

In a study led by Dr. Irl B. Hirsch, MD, medical director of the Diabetes Care Center at the University of Washington Medical Center, a inhaled form of insulin – similar to an asthma inhaler – worked as well as injections or pumps to control type 1 diabetes.

The research was presented last week at the 84th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in Orlando, Florida.

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The clinical trial tested a product called Afrezza, an inhaled basal insulin made by MannKind Corporation in California.

Afrezza, the only inhaled insulin on the market, has been available since receiving FDA approval in June 2014.

An inhaled form of insulin worked as well as injections or pumps in controlling type 1 diabetes in a recent study. (iStock/MannKind)

Advantages of a third option

“In people with type 1 diabetes, insulin is necessary for survival” Hirsch told Fox News Digital in an interview.

“With continuous glucose sensing, glucose control has been significantly improved, but not everyone achieves the goal with multiple injections or pumps, and each therapy has many advantages and disadvantages,” he said. he declares.

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With pumps, people have to carry the device, which can result in skin problems.

They also need to purchase additional accessories.

Blood sugar can also fall with exerciseHirsch warned, which can be problematic.

Afrezza, an inhaled basal insulin pictured here, is manufactured by MannKind Corporation in California. (MannKind)

“Overall, injections may be more convenient for some, but they don't work as well for pumping patients,” he said.

With Afrezza, the product is inhaled into the lungs before meals, and the rapid-acting insulin minimizes the blood sugar spike often seen after a meal, Hirsch noted.

“Patients with type 1 diabetes should consider this as another option for their mealtime insulin and talk to their doctor.”

During the 17 week studyResearchers evaluated the results of 141 adults who were instructed to either use the Afrezza inhaler or continue with traditional injection or pump delivery methods.

After 17 weeks, all participants switched to the inhaler for an additional 13 weeks.

Dr. Irl B. Hirsch, MD, medical director of the Diabetes Care Center at the University of Washington Medical Center, led the new study. (MannKind)

All groups were assessed with continuous blood glucose monitoring at study start, at 17 weeks, and again at 30 weeks.

Among the inhaled insulin group, 30% of participants reached their target glucose levels (less than 7% blood sugar) compared to 17% of people using injections and pumps.

There was no difference in hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) between the groups.

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“Overall, there was no difference in our primary endpoint, HbA1c, which reflects average blood sugar,” Hirsch said.

“But that in itself is misleading: Many patients had better results in controlling their blood sugar, while others had worse results.”

With Afrezza, the product is inhaled into the lungs before meals, and the fast-acting insulin minimizes the spike in blood sugar often seen after eating, one doctor said. (MannKind)

“The fact is that inhaling insulin is not for everyone, but some have had better results than with their pumps.”

People who got the best results inhaled insulin between meals and bedtime, Hirsch added.

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At the end of the study, more than half of the participants said they would choose to continue treatment with inhaled insulin.

“The most important takeaway is that patients with type 1 diabetes should consider this as another option for their mealtime insulin, and talk to their doctor on this choice”, he recommended.

“Adds value”

The American Diabetes Association acknowledged the promise of the study results in an email to Fox News Digital.

“We look forward to our Scientific Sessions each year to see data such as the INHALE-3 study results, which have the potential to expand diabetic treatments” Raveendhara Bannuru, MD, PhD, vice president of medical affairs and quality improvement at the ADA in Boston, Massachusetts, told Fox News Digital via email.

“With continuous glucose sensing, glucose control has been significantly improved,” one doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“We look forward to the continued development of alternative methods of insulin delivery that could provide options for people living with diabetes,” the group also said in the release.

“The INHALE-3 trial demonstrated that inhaled insulin, combined with insulin degludec, effectively reduces A1c levels without increasing hypoglycemia or weight gain in people with type 1 diabetes. adds value to insulin therapy options.

Potential risks and limits

While more people met their blood sugar goals with Afrezza, some subjects saw worse results when they switched from usual methods to inhaled insulin — potentially due to missing doses of inhaled insulin during daytime and/or underdosing before bedtime,” the researchers wrote.

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“We haven’t seen any concerns,” Hirsch said when asked about side effects.

“As expected, a few people coughed immediately upon administering their insulin, but no major problems were observed and everyone continued to take their inhaled insulin.”

“Not everyone reaches the goal with multiple injections or pumps, and each therapy has many advantages and disadvantages,” said one doctor. (iStock)

The most common side effects seen in the study were hypoglycemia, cough, and throat pain or irritation.

Afrezza has been associated with a risk of acute bronchospasm in patients with chronic lung disease, such as asthma or COPDaccording to the manufacturer.

“Insulin inhalation is not for everyone, but some have had better results than with their pumps.”

Before starting Afrezza, patients should see a doctor for a physical exam and tests to measure lung function.

Patients who smoke or have recently stopped smoking should not take the inhaled medication.

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Fox News Digital has contacted MannKind for additional comment.