Diabetes Inhaler Approved by United States Food and
Drug Administration
Diabetics of the world are encouraged by the new
research and trials looking into the disease. Critical clinical
trials about curing the disease are continuing each day. Other
advances have been discovered in various kinds of insulin, improving
insulin pumps, and finding more convenient and compact ways to
deliver insulin.
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One of the most recent approvals from the
United States Food and Drug Administration is Exubera.
Pfizer recently released the first insulin delivery that is
inhaled. It is the first approved by the FDA since the
1920’s. It is being promoted as a major advance in diabetes
treatment. The approval came through on Friday, January 27
of this year. The European Commission also approved the
drug on the same day.
To diabetics throughout the world, that is
good news. Imagine not needing to carry needles, insulin,
and syringes with you because you need multiple injections
throughout the day! The insulin pen, and the pump were
small strides in making this disease controllable, now we
have a new method.
Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions
according to the World Health Organization. |
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It affects more
than 48 million people in Europe alone. People with diabetes
often face severe complications because of uncontrolled blood
sugar levels. These complications include cardiovascular
disease, kidney failure, and blindness. Another big risk for
diabetics is injuring a foot or leg and because of small vessel
disease, they are unable to feel it. The problem then can
intensify and require amputation of the affected parts.
Normally toes or foot injuries cause the problems.
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What are the health costs for these
complications? It is estimated over $286 billion dollars
will be spent worldwide because of complications resulting
from diabetes. This fact is astonishing. Imagine that
amount of money going into further diabetes research or even
used to feed the hungry of this world. To wipe out this
disease would be a major development and worldwide
celebration would break out.
Insulin has been the primary treatment for
diabetes for over 80 years. It is often injected right
before a meal to keep blood sugar levels tightly under
control. Patients and doctors are unwilling to intensify
the diabetes treatment to include insulin injections because
of the need for daily and multiple injections.
This major medical breakthrough is a critical
step in treating diabetes and controlling the disease
worldwide. |
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Exubera is a dry powder form of human insulin that
is inhaled through the mouth into the lungs before a meal. An
easy to use, hand-held device and it doesn’t require batteries
or electricity. It weighs only about four ounces is comparable
to a carrying case for a pair of eyeglasses. It has a special
design to deliver the correct amount of insulin every time it is
sued.
What a hopeful breakthrough this is for diabetics
throughout the world. Hopefully this will be only the start of
many more exciting discoveries to rid the world of this awful
disease.
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