insulin inhaler?

Question

I heard from a diabetic co-worker about some new thing that's an insulin inhaler instead of shots. She's newly diagnosed and her DR said that he won't perscribe it without her being on shots longer.
My boyfriend has been type 1 for 19 years and i'm just wondering if anyone is on it, or knows anything about it.
I'm not sure how it would even work, let alone if i would trust a loved ones health on it...

Anyone know anything about this thing?

Answer 1

hi, i've been type 1 diabetic since i was 4 and am now 45. i have also read about the inhaler and it does not sound like u can get very accurate results from it (as the others who responded said). your boyfriend would need to use it every time he eats, also to make high blood sugar adjustments and also still take an insulin shot once or twice a day of a long acting insulin like Lantus..in theory, it is a good idea, but i also am a bit leary about. if your boyfriend is not currently using an insulin pump, i would highly recommend he look into that. i have had a pump for 3 yrs and love it. it takes a bit of adjustment in the beginning to get the basal level (that is a continuous minute amt of insulin that goes into the body at a rate set by you and your doctor), then he can make adjustments on the bolus's (these are the amts. of insulin taken when consuming carbs or making adjustments for high blood sugar)..you set your pump and all you need to do is enter the number of carbs and the pump will automatically figure the number of insulin units to give. It's hard for me to explain, but believe me, it is worth your while. instead of numerous daily injections, i now only have to change my pump site every 3 days thereby, only having to "stick" myself once every 3 days..if he's not currently using the pump, encourage him to look into it. i use the MiniMed..and love it...hold off on the inhaler, at least for now, until more is known..best wishes and i hope everything works out for him, and u too..lol

Answer 2

I wouldn't go near that stuff. I am a type 1 I take 5-6 shots a day and will not try the inhaled stuff. First of all no one knows the long term effects of all that crap in your lungs, A person taking it has to have their lungs checked regularly. And you can't use it in units like the insulin (you have to crush a little pill and the pill is only a certain amount of units, lets say you need to take 5 units and the pills are only 2 units each you can't get to 5) also it is only rapid insulin you still need a long lasting. Also it is too bulky to carry around like an insulin pen.

Answer 3

I would most definitely NOT recommend the insulin inhaler and most especially for a type 1 diabetic. Absorption of nasal insulin has been in the works for decades and although it is now available the amount absorbed into the body is simply too varied. Orally inhaled (into the lungs) insulin is in development and theoretically this should work better but the standard for type 1 diabetics is the combination of long acting basal (glargine or detemir) and rapid acting (aspart or lispro) prandial insulins.

Answer 4

first off, it looks like a giant bong
its only for type 2 diabetics
The inhalent only comes in 1mg (equal to 3u of insulin) and 3mg (equal to 8u) so its not really recommended for new diabetics or people with chronically high blood sugar, or brittle diabetics whose blood sugar fluctuates at such a rapid rate

Personally, I wouldn't recommend it for lots of reasons
I wouldn't want any of my family members to use it, it juist doesn't seem "probven safe" yet