New Inhaled Insulin Drug Helps People With Diabetes
By Stephanie Stahl
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- National Diabetes Month is observed every November so individuals, health care professionals, organizations, and communities across the country can bring attention to diabetes and its impact on millions of Americans.
More than 400 million adults were living with diabetes in 2015 and this number is expected to increase to around 642 million or one in ten adults by 2040.
One in two adults with diabetes is undiagnosed.
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Daniele Hargenrader makes sure to stay fit as a personal trainer. She often works out in Pennypack Park. Daniele also has Type 1 diabetes and depends on insulin to control her blood sugar. "The quickest it can start working is within 45 minutes to an hour," explains Daniele.
That's the time it takes with traditional injected insulin which can also be painful and inconvenient.
But now Daniele is also using Afrezza, an inhaled insulin.
"It works within 15 minutes and I'm good to go," says Daniele. "So really it's a life-changer for me because of that."
It's called a mealtime insulin and is used to control blood sugar spikes linked to eating. Because it's so easy and portable, it can also be used be for people like Daniele who need occasional doses on the run.
"It's a tool in my tool belt that without it, I would still be suffering with high blood sugar for longer than you want to," she says.
"It can go in a pocket or a pocketbook," says South Jersey endocrinologist Dr. Joseph Fallon who says inhaled insulin is becoming increasingly popular. "This insulin is the fastest on the market and has a big impact," says Dr. Fallon. "And what it can do is prevent and fix diabetic sugar."
"This is a go-to product that is novel and new with a lot of efficacy," he said.
For Daniele, the inhaled insulin has made living with diabetes a lot easier. "It brought my blood sugar down faster than anything in 24 years," says Daniele.
Doctors say not everyone is a suitable candidate for inhaled insulin.
Also, the Federal Drug Administration requires a lung capacity test before a patient can start on Afrezza.