INHALABLE INSULIN: A REVOLUTION IN DIABETES MANAGEMENT

Considerable time and financial resources have been dedicated to the development of new medications that target various essential enzymes and signaling pathways, which have temporarily aided in mitigating this growing pandemic. Insulin continues to be regarded as the gold standard for treatment; however, it is frequently rejected by both patients and healthcare professionals (clinical inertia) due to the method of administration of this medication. Although ultra-short-acting insulin analogues assist in managing prandial glucose spikes, they necessitate 2-3 doses depending on meal intake. Furthermore, long-acting basal insulin is often needed to replicate normal physiological insulin baseline levels. This results in an average of 2-4 insulin injections per day, which many individuals find quite distressing. Patients frequently feel overwhelmed by the necessity of finger pricks for regular blood glucose monitoring, and the prospect of tracking blood glucose levels has often deterred a significant number of patients who guess their sugar levels before and after meals. Insulin therapy requires more stringent blood glucose monitoring, and in cases of hypoglycemic episodes or uncontrolled hyperglycemias, multiple finger pricks may be necessary. The discrepancies in blood glucose readings across various Point of Care (POC) glucometer devices do not alleviate the situation and only contribute to the existing frustration. Emphasizing alternative and innovative drug delivery methods for existing molecules can help shift the therapeutic paradigm towards more favorable outcomes. This article will explore one such transformative change in the drug delivery of insulin.