Children with type 1 diabetes who used inhaled insulin during meals achieved similar blood sugar control as those using traditional injections, according to a study presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) meeting in Chicago.
In the 26-week trial, 230 children aged 4 to 17 received either Afrezza, an inhaled insulin approved for adults, or standard injected insulin at mealtimes. All participants continued their daily long-acting basal insulin. Researchers found comparable hemoglobin A1c levels in both groups, indicating effective blood sugar management.
Inhaled insulin also resulted in less weight gain and higher satisfaction scores from both children and parents. Importantly, no adverse lung effects were observed.
“Afrezza is the fastest-acting insulin and should be available to all children with type 1 diabetes,” said study lead Dr. Michael Haller from the University of Florida.
Once-Weekly Insulin Offers New Hope for Type 2 Diabetes
Eli Lilly’s experimental once-weekly insulin Efsitora proved as effective as daily insulins in three major trials involving nearly 1,000 adults. Reported at the ADA meeting, the results showed Efsitora matched standard regimens in lowering HbA1c across patients with varying insulin experience.
“It may eliminate over 300 injections per year,” noted Jeff Emmick, Lilly’s SVP of product development.
Dr. Julio Rosenstock from UT Southwestern added that the simplified regimen could reduce the fear of starting insulin therapy.
Gene-Engineered Skin Grafts Heal Rare Blistering Disease
As reported by Reuters, Stanford researchers successfully used genetically modified skin grafts. The treatment helped heal wounds in patients with severe dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (EB). The team corrected defective collagen VII genes in patient cells and grew healthy skin sheets for grafting.
In a study of 11 patients, 81% of treated wounds were at least half-healed after six months, compared to 16% of untreated wounds. Grafted areas also had reduced pain, blistering, and itching.
The U.S. FDA approved the therapy in April, offering a long-awaited solution to a devastating disease.