Inhaled insulin may mean end for diabetic injections

The ubiquitous syringe, carried everywhere by diabetics for their regular dose of insulin, could soon be replaced by a puffer, similar to those carried by asthmatics.

A new kind of powdered insulin, which is inhaled rather than injected, was yesterday recommended by an expert panel of the US Food and Drug Administration. If approved by the FDA, the drug, called Exubera, could be on the market within months. However, the FDA is not obliged to follow the recommendation of its expert panels.

Read more: Inhaled insulin may mean end for diabetic injections