No more insulin injections! Inhaler to replace syringes and needles

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major breakthrough for diabetes management, insulin injections could soon become a thing of the past. Children and adults alike can now inhale insulin instead of taking injections. The insulin inhaler is expected to be available in hospitals and medical stores this year itself.

The insulin inhaler, Afrezza, developed by the U.S.-based MannKind Corporation, has received approval for use in India. Multinational pharmaceutical company Cipla will manufacture and market it in India, though the price has not yet been disclosed. Afrezza was approved in the U.S. back in 2014.

From injections to inhalers

• Those who take a 3-unit injection will need 6 doses of the inhaler. The required amount of insulin should be loaded into the inhaler accordingly.
• The medication starts working within 15 minutes of entering the body and disappears from the bloodstream within three hours.
• It helps prevent hypoglycemia — a condition where blood sugar drops quickly after meals.
• Weight gain, often experienced by insulin users, will not be an issue with this inhaler.

"This will be a relief not only for those who take multiple daily injections but also for those using automated devices."
— Dr. Jyothidev Kesavadev,
Diabetes Specialist

Population in Kerala: 3.51 crore
Diabetic patients: 1.52 crore (43.5%) (ICMR estimate)