Impact of Inhaled Insulin Therapy on Hypoglycemia

Achieving optimal glycemic control, preventing acute events, and minimizing the risk of chronic complications while maintaining a high quality of life are the primary goals of effective diabetes management. However, many insulin-treated people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are not achieving the recommended glycemic goals. In addition to the known acute and chronic complications of hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia is a common occurrence that imposes significant health risks. Although rapid-acting and ultra-rapid-acting insulins have demonstrated improved glycemic and safety outcomes over human regular insulin, their delayed onset and extended duration of action, as well as the risk for dosing errors, make hypoglycemia a frequent event for people using these therapies. Technosphere inhaled insulin is a viable option for mealtime insulin coverage and post-meal corrections, providing a "fast on, fast off" insulin activity profile that closely aligns with the timing of glucose absorption from meals to achieve desired postprandial glycemic control while likely minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia. This article discusses the advantages of TI over injected rapid-acting insulin analogs in addressing hypoglycemia fear and the other barriers associated with treatment adherence.