Information regarding diabetes and day-to-day living with the disease.

Diabetics of the world are encouraged by the new research and trials looking
into the disease. Critical clinical trials about curing the disease are continuing
each day. Other advances have been discovered in various kinds of insulin,
improving insulin pumps, and finding more convenient and compact ways to deliver
insulin.

One of the most recent approvals from the United States Food and Drug Administration
is Exubera. Pfizer recently released the first insulin delivery that is inhaled.
It is the first approved by the FDA since the 1920’s. It is being promoted
as a major advance in diabetes treatment. The approval came through on Friday,
January 27 of this year. The European Commission also approved the drug on
the same day.

To diabetics throughout the world, that is good news. Imagine not needing
to carry needles, insulin, and syringes with you because you need multiple
injections throughout the day! The insulin pen, and the pump were small strides
in making this disease controllable, now we have a new method.

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions according to the World Health Organization.
It affects more than 48 million people in Europe alone. People with diabetes
often face severe complications because of uncontrolled blood sugar levels.
These complications include cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and blindness.
Another big risk for diabetics is injuring a foot or leg and because of small
vessel disease, they are unable to feel it. The problem then can intensify
and require amputation of the affected parts. Normally toes or foot injuries
cause the problems.

What are the health costs for these complications? It is estimated over $286
billion dollars will be spent worldwide because of complications resulting
from diabetes. This fact is astonishing. Imagine that amount of money going
into further diabetes research or even used to feed the hungry of this world.
To wipe out this disease would be a major development and worldwide celebration
would break out.

Insulin has been the primary treatment for diabetes for over 80 years. It
is often injected right before a meal to keep blood sugar levels tightly under
control. Patients and doctors are unwilling to intensify the diabetes treatment
to include insulin injections because of the need for daily and multiple injections.

This major medical breakthrough is a critical step in treating diabetes and
controlling the disease worldwide. Exubera is a dry powder form of human insulin
that is inhaled through the mouth into the lungs before a meal. An easy to
use, hand-held device and it doesn’t require batteries or electricity.
It weighs only about four ounces is comparable to a carrying case for a pair
of eyeglasses. It has a special design to deliver the correct amount of insulin
every time it is sued.

What a hopeful breakthrough this is for diabetics throughout the world. Hopefully
this will be only the start of many more exciting discoveries to rid the world
of this awful disease.