The FDA has approved a new drug called Afrezza for adults with diabetes. Afrezza is a rapid-acting insulin that you breathe in through a special inhaler. You take it at the beginning of each meal to help control your blood sugar. This is the first inhaled insulin approved in many years, giving patients an option without needles.
Afrezza is for adults with diabetes who need mealtime insulin. It is not for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious complication) or for those who smoke or recently quit smoking. Before starting Afrezza, your doctor will check your lungs with a breathing test to make sure you do not have chronic lung disease, because the drug can cause sudden breathing problems in people with lung conditions.
This approval means there is now a needle-free way to take insulin at meals. However, it is not a cure for diabetes and does not replace long-acting insulin or other diabetes medicines. It is simply another tool for managing blood sugar.
If you are interested in Afrezza, talk to your doctor. They can help you decide if it is a good option based on your health history, especially your lung health. Do not stop or change your current diabetes treatment without medical guidance.
