By No one — not even nurses — likes needles. But injectable insulin has been the mainstay of diabetes treatment for years, leaving few choices for nurses with advanced disease.
Two new insulin delivery devices may soon change all that. Oral-lyn, an oral spray delivered via an inhaler-type device, and Afrezza, an inhaled form of insulin, both show promise in Phase III studies. Both controlled blood sugars at least as well as injectable insulin, while causing less weight gain. Both also have the potential to cause fewer episodes of hypoglycemia.
That’s potentially big news for diabetics everywhere. (With any luck, both products could be on the market within two years.) The faster-acting forms of insulin may be a particular boon for diabetic nurses who struggle to maintain regular eating and activity levels in light of ever-changing work schedules.
Resources:
