New Insulin Delivery System Tested

New Insulin Delivery System Tested

NEW INSULIN DELIVERY SYSTEM TESTED

Diabetics who need to take insulin (type 1s and

some type 2s) have had to use either the insulin syringe (the insulin pen is a type of

syringe) or the insulin pump, both invasive ways to project a measured dose of medication

under the skin.

Because insulin is digestible, an "insulin

pill" would not work. Inhaled insulin works (its effects are detectable in the

bloodstream), but there are still problems moderating the dose. Now another alternative is

being tested.

Remember the "Nicotine Patch?" It

looked like a BandAid, and released a tiny amount of nicotine through the skin, as an aid

to smoking cessation. Scientists have wondered if such transdermal delivery could work for

insulin.

It does work--but it has some problems. The

nature of diabetes requires steady, precise and predictable insulin delivery, to preserve

euglycemia. Too much or too little insulin can quickly cause an emergency. Different

people have different skin types, and a given person's skin can change, due to age,

weather, level of physical activity, or state of health.

Noven Pharmaceuticals, of Miami, Florida, is one

of the companies exploring this technique, the medicated insulin patch. Its president,

Steven Sablotsky, commented, "Research continues... If this proves to be a new way of

delivering insulin, commercialization would still be several years away."