Inhalable Insulin May Be Delayed by FDA

Analysts estimate that Exubera, Pfizer's inhalable insulin, may be delayed by the FDA due to what some analysts claim is insufficient long-term testing testing on the effects of the drug on smokers and children.

Exubera is a dry, fine-powdered insulin that is inhaled into the lungs and then absorbed into the bloodstream.

Dr. Bill Canovatchel, senior medical director for Pfizer and the company's team leader for worldwide diabetes, acknowledged that Exubera does not have long-term testing that specifically addresses the drug's effect on smokers and children. But he noted that Pfizer has still done considerable testing.

"We have submitted a rather extensive and comprehensive submission," said Canovatchel.

Dr. Jay Skyler, a University of Miami professor of medicine and an associate director at the Diabetes Research Institute, said that Exubera and other inhaled insulin products could benefit from longer-term studies.

But Skyler said that Exubera still deserved FDA approval. "Inhaled insulin is effective, has no serious health issues and should receive regulatory approval," said Skyler. "I suspect the FDA will examine [Exubera] carefully because it's the first of its kind to go through there, but I think it meets the regulatory hurdles."

via: CNN Money

Palm Proposed as Alternate Testing Site

As far as I'm concerned, the most painful part of this whole diabetes thing is not the actual insulin injections, but the finger pricks necessary to check blood sugar levels. That's why I was excited to hear that a new study presented at the American Diabetes Association's 65th Annual Scientific Sessions reports that the palm can be used as a suitible alternative to finger prick testing.

The palm has plenty of blood capillaries and fewer pain receptors than the fingertips. Other body parts -- such as the forearm and thigh -- have also been proposed as alternate sites. But the palm is easy to access, say Schwartz and colleagues.

via: WebMD Health News

American Diabetes Association Launches Online Risk Assessment Tool

The ADA has just launched a powerful new tool called Diabetes PHD to determine your risk factors for diabetes and various related conditions. The tool asks you to enter your personal health history information and presents your risk factors with related explanations graphed as you age.

"DIABETES PHD or 'Diabetes Personal Health Decision,' provides personal health profiles to help people understand their risk for diabetes or its serious complications. The program creates a whole set of personal clinical trials enabling users to see what might happen in the future based on health behavior changes."

via: Yahoo News

Caffeine Helps Control Nocturnal Hypoglycemia in People With Type 1 Diabetes

"Researchers from Bournemouth in the United Kingdom studied 19 people with long-standing type 1 diabetes. All participants were given a low-caffeine diet (less than 50 milligrams/day) for two weeks. Some also received caffeine capsules (250 milligram) two times a day while others received a placebo. Researchers say the capsules are the equivalent to the average daily caffeine intake in the United Kingdom. Blood sugars were monitored using continuous glucose-sensing technology.

Study results show caffeine reduced the duration of nighttime hypoglycemia with an average duration of 49 minutes vs. 132 minutes."

via: Ivanhoe's Medical Breakthroughs - Caffeine Benefits People With Type 1 Diabetes