Inhaled insulin: recent advances in the therapy of Type 1 and 2 diabetes

There are promising data in the field of inhaled insulin. This article describes the current devices being developed for insulin delivery via inhalation. Encouraging advanced clinical data are available in Type 1 diabetes, where inhaled insulin is used in conjunction with basal insulin. Moreover, patients with Type 2 diabetes who have failed oral therapy show improved control when inhaled insulin therapy is initiated. Safety data show that cough is the most common side effect. Pulmonary function tests have shown some changes in carbon monoxide diffusion in the lung. Further studies are needed to clarify the significance of this finding. Inhaled insulin appears to be a non-invasive, well-tolerated and -liked modality of treatment, with potential in both Type 1 and 2 diabetes.