Inhaled Insulin: A Viable Alternative Or A Passing Fad?
Julia Hanf
Insulin, a hormone produced by the Islets of Langerhans in your pancreas, plays an integral role the process of digestion, enabling your body to recognize the presence of glucose and thus assimilate and utilize it. Diabetes occurs either when your body fails to produce the requisite amounts of insulin, or fails to discern the presence of this hormone altogether, which leads to the unused glucose flooding your bloodstream. And thus, the most effective way to regulate these wayward blood glucose levels is to administer insulin to the body, which prevents diabetes from complicating into its more advanced stages.
The traditional method of administering insulin via several evenly-spaced injections through the day has achieved reasonable success in letting diabetics gain better control over the amount of glucose present in their blood and is also considered to be a reasonably foolproof method of dealing with diabetes. However, the problem arises when this method has to be implemented for in cases of juvenile diabetics, or even the elderly who may find this method distressing and tremendously inconvenient. As a result, a large number of diabetics prefer to deal with their disease only when the symptoms attain the stature of the unavoidable, regarding insulin injections with as much distaste as they perceive the disease itself.
As the death toll claimed by diabetes increases with every passing day, researchers have begun to realize the urgency that the dilemma of having to use insulin, but not wanting to use it, creates and have focused their efforts at devising alternative means of administering insulin, which are easy and convenient to use, while also bringing about the desired level of glucose control. Of the many theories that have been developed and tested and approved by diabetes experts, inhaled insulin is a forerunner, having gained as much popularity amongst its users as with the medical fraternity.
Inhaled insulin is administered through a device, which lets you breathe in this hormone through your mouth. The amount of insulin that is to be inhaled depends on the specific dosage that has been recommended to you, as per the extent to which this disease has developed and how diligent you are with your diet and exercise regime. Scientists have also considered, and discarded, the option of inhaling insulin through your nose, as the membranes of your nasal cavity prevent a large percentage of this insulin from assign through. This, in turn, would compel you to ingest tremendously high doses of insulin, just to make sure that your body is receiving the amount it needs.
Once an appropriate dosage has been determined by your physician, you can administer the suitable amount of insulin via insulin blisters, which fit into your inhalation device. This insulin is fast acting; in that, it manifests its effect on your blood glucose within a time span of as little as 20 minutes. The murkier side of the picture is that the effect lasts for only about 6 hours, which is not a very workable alternative if you're looking for a steadier form of blood glucose regulation.
Inhaled insulin is also off-limits for certain categories of individuals including those who have respiratory ailments like asthma, or tend to smoke excessively. Diabetes experts also warn against this method for pregnant women, given the fact that inhaling insulin can lead to several after and side effects like chest pain, nose bleed and soreness in your throat, while also bringing about allergic reactions like wheezing, itching, hives and rashes in certain cases.
Inhaled insulin has a number of conspicuous advantages over its injected counterpart, however, to guard against the possible after-effects, make sure you physician is well-aware and approving of your decision to switch to inhaled insulin. Certain medical practitioners also strongly recommend a thorough physical examination to ward off any unpleasant surprises. Diabetes therapy is only effective when practiced on a regular basis and with diligence and here, inhaled insulin is no exception. Broaden your horizons with regards to diabetes treatment today you'll be surprised at how simple and trouble-free treating this disease can be!
Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.
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