Medical Encyclopedia
Exubera may be covered by your insurance plan, however it is more expensive than shot therapy and your insurance company might need to have evidence of a medical reason for chosing inhaled insulin over shots before approving this cost. Be sure to talk with your health insurance plan administrator before assuming it is a covered item.
Inhaled Insulin (Exubera)
Insulin is a hormone normally produced in the body by the beta islets cells of the pancreas that aids in the processing of food into energy that the body can use. There are many types of insulin.
Definition: Inhaled insulin is an form of insulin that can be breathed into the lungs through use of a special inhaler. Inhaled insulin may sometimes be used to treat diabetes mellitus.
Currently, the only form of inhaled insulin for sale in the United States is Exubera, a human [rDNA origin]) Inhalation Powder Exubera Inhaler. It is made of blisters of recumbent human insulin that is administered through a large inhaler device.
Exubera may be used for treating patients with type 2 diabetes who do not need a longer acting insulin. For those with type 1 diabetes Exubera does not replace the need for an intermediate or long-acting insulin.
Side effects include cough, dry mouth, reduced lung capacity, and chest discomfort. People who smoke or who have only recently quit smoking or have with breathing problems should not use Exubera.
Exubera is an expensive therapy since not all that is inhaled is absorbed and used by the body. This means more insulin to deliver the same results that may be obtained in shots.
All persons with the juvenile form of type 1 diabetes need to take insulin to live.
Picture of Exubera Inhaled Insulin Delivery System
Want help determining how to calculate your need for insulin? First, be sure to check with your doctor but you can also use Insulin Pumper's insulin calculating tool to better understand how your doctor might determine your need for insulin.