I've been following Oral-Lyn, an oral insulin that is sprayed in the mouth (not the lungs), both as an investor and one with Type II DM. I even had the opportunity to try out a few canisters. This product, and others that are alternatives to injecting, are going to be available within a few years and they look like a welcome change to daily injections, especially for children and those that are averse to injections.
I found the response of insulin to be effective and consistent. I hope in the future there will always be some kind of option so everyone can be compliant with their diabetic regimen.
I'm very curious as to how you got access to "a few cannisters", as the product is not on the market in most major countries (including the US), and it's quite unethical and probably illegal for a company to give away samples unless its part of a "compassionate use" program or unless you were officially enrolled in a clinical trial.
Sorry, should have explained that further. It was brought from India by a few friends when they visited. India pharmacies are not particular about Doctor scripts and will sell most non-narcotics over the counter.
The point was not to brag about getting the product but to point out its efficacy.
BTW: The product is now approved for compassionate use in the US through the FDA's treatment IND program.
In the case of type 2 it is because they want to keep the pancreas working as long as possible. They run a c-peptide test if the pancreas is still producing any insulin on it's own they try oral meds first to encourage it to produce more. If it does not produce ay insulin on it's own they go to insulin injections. How and when they determine to make the switch, what they use a determining factors is harder to understand. How high do glucose levels have to be or how low does the c-peptide have to get before they decide oral meds aren't working and that it is time to switch to insulin? Now that part is a lot harder to to understand... maybe because it's harder for doctors to figure out and maybe like many other things varies from patient to patient.
I don't think too many physicians are measuring C-peptide repeatedly to decide when to start insulin (if they are measuring C-peptide at all!).
I think it's more likely that physicians are tracking the patient's home glucose values, and the A1C levels, and whether they are decreasing to levels suggested by the major diabetes organizations (A1C of 7.0 or even less). If the A1C is "hung up" (say, for example, at 8 or more), then it's time to adjust therapy: either adding another drug if only on one, or maybe switching from one to another, or better still, starting insulin therapy on top of whatever other diabetes drugs the patient may have been on...
Hello Dr Bill
You say that the most important advantage is that it always works. But isn't there a danger of building up more resistance to insulin if you inject it? I've read that insulin resistance might in part arise because insulin levels in the blood are too high. So if you use insulin as your means of therapy, isn't there a danger you will treat the symptoms of the disease but aggravate the underlying cause - of type 2 diabetes anyway.
By the way, thanks for your articles, they are invaluable.
Martin Edhouse
Indirectly, adding insulin by injection may result in increased insulin resistance: by allowing the body to store more calories as fat, which in turn causes increased insulin resistance. So it's really important that folks on insulin therapy be cautious about the number of calories they provide, or they might become involved in a vicious circle: insulin leading to weight gain leading to insulin resistance leading to a need for more insulin...
Generex is coming out with a spray insulin that goes into the mouth, and Oramed has got a capsule with insulin, that somehow is protected from breaking down. I use natural means to control BGs, but sometimes, no matter how much I try, especially in winter, I do cheat. I would be first in line when either of these goes mainstream, so that I can have some pizza a few times a month, without deadly guilt. Going low carb in winter is very hard for me, and often I need the comfort of carbs then, because of SADS.
Sounds to me like one possible reason you haven't started insulin therapy is the nuisance of the needles. If that's your worry, be sure to have your diabetes nurse educator instruct you on how to give a shot -- you'll find that it's a snap, and you might decide to start insulin sooner rather than later...
I must clarify my situation. Neither my NP, nor my primary care phys. has ever recommended insulin for me. My fasting glucose at the doctor's is 80. My last two A1cs were 5.4 and 5.5 respectively. I was only refering to the occasional times when especially women get carb cravings like monthly, and I climb the walls, trying to resist a doughnut or pizza. Then, during those times, and when I would want to eat oatmeal in the AM, would i want to use Oral-lyn, when it becomes available. It would just cover the meal, since i eat healthy most often.
I appreciate you shedding some light to this concern. I'm worried about this myself because I'm not a big medicine tester. And by that, I mean that I don't like switching from one drug to another, hoping one works better.
Now that you've mentioned that insulin's a great choice, I can better discuss the option with my doctor and see if I can use it for my diabetes.
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thank you dr. Bill
please ; increase the frequency of new posts and informations.
thanks again