For people with diabetes, medication is a part of their everyday life. They have to take certain medications to manage your diabetes, in addition to dealing with the side effects that having diabetes can create. From weight loss to cholesterol, blood sugar to nerve sensitivity, prescription drugs can be beneficial and complicated at the same time.

Researchers are constantly working to develop new drugs that make diseases of all kinds easier to deal with. Chronic diseases like Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes need to be treated on a day to day basis for the condition to not get worse.

New medications

A new inhalable medication, used for people with Type 1 diabetics, may be a breakthrough in treatments for diabetes. Inhalable drugs are small, easier to carry, and can help some people control their diabetes and insulin levels without needing to worry about having an insulin pump.

Insulin is necessary for people with Type 1 diabetes but regulating it can be a challenge. They need to pay very close attention to when they are eating, what they are eating, how much they exercise, and other factors, all of which can influence their body’s need for insulin.

How it works

One medication, called Afrezza, works faster at getting insulin into the bloodstream than other insulin methods can. This inhaled drug takes 12 to 15 minutes to hit the bloodstream while injections or pumps can take up to 45 minutes to fully work. This lag time can make planning for meals and other life events difficult.

Afrezza also leaves the bloodstream faster than injectable insulin, which is better for the body when it comes to dealing with low blood sugar. Not everyone needs to switch to an inhaled medication for their diabetes, but it can be a viable alternative for people who need a fast-acting insulin to meet their lifestyle needs.