AFREZZA: The Revolutionary Inhaled Insulin for Type 1 Diabetes
What is Afrezza and how could this be a game changer for diabetes?
People have talked for YEARS about the desire to take insulin without injections—and Afrezza is the only FDA-approved form of mealtime insulin that allows for just that.
It is delivered through an inhaler-type device and is inhaled directly into the lungs. The inhaled insulin is then absorbed into the bloodstream and helps to lower blood sugar levels.
Inhaled insulin may be used instead of, or in addition to, traditional insulin injections.
Here are just a few reasons why Afrezza could be a great addition to your diabetes care regimen:
1. Convenience.
Inhaled insulin can be used discreetly in public, without the need for needles or syringes. You can use it anytime and anywhere you go - public places, playgrounds, on an airplane, at a busy restaurant, in the gym, or even when you’re head-to-toe in snow pants and a thick winter jacket about to take your dog for a walk (imagine that for a second)
Because Afrezza is inhaled, it makes it a more convenient option for those living a busy lifestyle who may not want to take an extra few seconds to pull on their shirt, find an injection location, alcohol wipe it, and then take one. It’s just inhaled and then done.
2. Mealtime flexibility.
The diabetes community has always been yearning for this flexibility, and here it is! While Afrezza can be taken at the start of a meal (and probably should be), because its action is so fast, you could take it partway through a meal once you have a better idea of the total carbs (think: at a restaurant), and you don't have to pre-bolus it, since it kicks in so quickly. While it can assist with mealtime insulin or corrections, it cannot be used to replace long-acting, basal insulin, so you will still need your long-acting insulin or your insulin pump’s basal rate.
3. Faster onset and shorter duration.
When inhaled, Afrezza reaches its blood-level peak within 12 to 15 minutes, which is substantially quicker than the time it takes for traditional rapid-acting insulin to be administered. Because of this, Afrezza can lower your stubborn blood sugars much faster than traditional injections or doses on the pump. Because its effects wear off relatively quickly as well, it is a good option for people who need to control their blood sugar quickly after meals, and it makes it possible for you to correct it quickly and land within your target range.
Additionally, compared to injectable insulin, the activity of Afrezza lasts only 90 minutes. This means it is easier to know whether to take another dose and there is less likely to be a delayed low blood sugar hours later from the original dose.
Even though this has helped a lot of people with diabetes, there are also some potential drawbacks to using this inhaled insulin. Because it requires a certain level of lung function to be effective and safe, it may not be appropriate for people with certain respiratory conditions. So just to be sure, your doctor might want you to undergo a procedure called “Spirometer test”. A test that determines how much air a person can inhale and exhale, as well as how effectively the lungs transfer oxygen into the bloodstream.
While Afrezza isn't for everyone, it certainly is an option to consider adding to your diabetes repertoire, whether you are using it for sticky high blood sugars or as your main source of insulin.
