Inhaled Insulin - A New Delivery for an Old Drug

Rates of diabetes continue to rise in the United States. It's estimated that more than 25 million people in the United States currently have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Insulin is the mainstay of treatment, and a new delivery option is available. In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Afrezza® inhalation powder, a rapid-acting inhaled form of human insulin, to treat diabetes in adults. This article will provide an overview of the Afrezza system, indications for use, adverse reactions and implications for nurses who work with women with diabetes.