Inhaled technosphere insulin plus insulin degludec maintains glycemic control

A new study in the journal Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics evaluated the effects of a regimen of inhaled technosphere insulin (TI) and insulin degludec over 30 weeks and its potential to reduce post-meal hyperglycemia in adults with type 1 diabetes. TI has a more rapid onset of action than rapid-acting insulin analogs.

Roy Beck, MD, Ph.D., from the JAEB Center for Health Research, and co-authors, reported that HbA1c levels were sustained over a 30-week period using a TI-degludec regimen after patients switched from either automated insulin delivery (AID) or multiple daily injections (MDI). Mean time in range was 52%+18% at baseline, 53%+20% at 17 weeks, and 54%+20% at 30 weeks.

The investigators stated that “43% of participants expressed interest in continuing the TI-degludec regimen rather than returning to their pre-study regimen, even a third who were previously using AID. This finding plus the results of the RCT and extension phase provide support for TI being an available option for people with T1D.”

“Afrezza, the TI insulin, showed similar efficacy in patients who transitioned to MDI from using an AID system as reported by Beck et al.,” says Satish Garg, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, from University of Colorado Denver, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.