For many people the thought of injecting insulin is one of the worst parts of finding out they have diabetes, but advances in oral insulin may make injections a thing of the past soon. Although insulin injections have been necessary for many diabetics, it can take time and be unpleasant. Children and young people, in particular, may resist having to do this as part of their treatment, putting their lives at risk due to complications.
Researchers have noted the importance of finding alternative ways to administer insulin. The challenge has been that in many cases the insulin breaks down in digestive liquids to a degree that it becomes less useful than with injecting it. Studies have indicated that oral administration is often ineffective in getting enough insulin into the blood stream to be at appropriate therapeutic levels.
However, advances and new technologies have been showing promise in the quest to find a way to orally administer insulin. Scientists have been focusing on administering insulin through the mouth, lungs, and nose. Although little has been accomplished in regards to administering through the nose, the lungs have proven to be much more promising.
In 2006, the FDA approved the first insulin inhaler, which delivers insulin to the lungs where it is easily taken into the bloodstream. Inhaled insulin comes with its own set of side effects including coughing, sore throat, and shortness of breath. Doctors also have concern over the potential long term effects of inhaling the protein insulin in through the lungs. For people with severe aversion to injecting insulin, though, the inhaler provides an alternative.
Scientists have also been working on an insulin pill, which could be taken before meals to help control glucose levels. Although many companies have worked on this, taking insulin orally has been a challenging puzzle to solve because it tends to degrade in the stomach. Recently, one company has stated that they've come up with a solution that allows the pill to pass into the small intestine before it breaks up. This solution could be what is needed to make an insulin pill viable.
Advances in oral insulin have been made and soon injections may be a thing of the past. If you currently use insulin to help control your diabetes, talk to your doctor today about some of the alternatives and advances in this area.
