Kansas City Business Daily

How long before technology advances to the point where Diabetics do not need to use needles to get Insulin?

There have been many advancements in medical technology that might one day allow Diabetics to get their insulin without injecting with needles. What sort of methods might be used? And when will these be a reality for Diabetics?

Public Comments

1. Recently they have developed and tested a transdermal patch system for delivering insulin (just like a nicotine patch). It works slightly differently to a nicotine patch however, instead of the substance actually diffusing through the skin, the layer of the patch which is in contact with the skin has hundreds of tiny needles (which are so small they are painless), which release microcapsules filled with insulin. when these pass through the skin into the blood the microcapsules break and the insulin is released into the blood. This has been successfully tested in small clinical trials in Melbourne, Australia (where im from) and they said it should be on the market around end of 2008, early 2009.
2. My daughter has type1 diabetes and must take insulin at least 4 times per day. She gets shots for right now because she's so young. But there are insulin pumps that many people use. Also, there is already insulin that can be inhaled out there. So ... diabetics can already get their insulin without injecting with needles. I'd also like to add ... this isn't a good place to get information for your homework assignment. There's a lot of bad information given out in this forum. Go to the library and do some reading.
3. Check this out: http://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_treatments/insulin_inhaled.php
4. I am a type 1 diabetic that has not taken a needle for over a year. I use an insulin pump. The technology is already here, and it is not new.
5. When pigs fly!