Evolving strategies for insulin delivery and therapy

It has now been conclusively proven that adequate control of blood glucose delays or prevents the progression of diabetic complications. In order to achieve the suggested targets for glycaemic control necessary to reduce the incidence of diabetic complications, it has been established that a more intensive insulin regimen requiring multiple insulin injections is required for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. For patients with type 2 diabetes, oral antidiabetic therapy is generally used initially, but given the natural history of type 2 diabetes and the need to achieve improved glycaemic control, earlier use of insulin has been promoted. However, the use of insulin in more intensive regimens for the patient with type 1 diabetes or for earlier treatment of the patient with type 2 diabetes is not routine. Many factors are responsible for this observation. Nevertheless, available device options such as insulin pens or insulin pumps are routinely available for implementation of intensive insulin therapy. However, a major limitation for advancing to intensive insulin therapy is that the only viable way to administer insulin is through injection. Delivery options that use dermal, nasal and oral approaches have been explored. The oral approach may include gastrointestinal, buccal or pulmonary uptake. Recent evidence shows that delivery of insulin via the oral cavity with uptake occurring in the pulmonary alveoli may be the most viable clinical option in the future.