The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7431 p726
16 December 2006

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Inhaled insulin for routine diabetes use rejected by NICE

Inhaled insulin is not recommended for the routine treatment of people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence announced this week.

In guidance issued to the NHS in England and Wales, NICE recommends that inhaled insulin be used as a treatment option for patients who have poor glycaemic control despite other therapeutic interventions but only when they are unable to use subcutaneous insulin therapy because of a diagnosed phobia of injections or because they have severe and persistent problems with injection sites.

Treatment with inhaled insulin (used under the circumstances set out in the guidance) should only be continued beyond six months if there is evidence of a sustained improvement in HbA_1c levels.