New drug may help some diabetes patients

New type of insulin is inhaled rather than injected

An estimated 29 million Americans are living with diabetes, a chronic disease that can be both debilitating and deadly.

But now, there's a new form of insulin that's helping some people manage the most difficult aspects of the disease.

[WEB EXTRA: Learn more about Afrezza]

Sam Finta is one of those people. He has always been fit and considered himself healthy. But everything changed with a diagnosis of type one diabetes in 1999.

"It's a life long disease and you have to manage it several hours a day," said Finta.

But that all changed when he became part of a clinical trial for a powdered form of insulin called Afrezza. Rather than pumps and injections, the drug comes in a little whistle like device that is inhaled just before mealtime.

"It's a major breakthrough as far as i'm concerned because it's a very innovative drug," said podiatrist Dr. Eric Weinstein.

He deals with one of the main complications of diabetes, neuropathy---or nerve damage---that leads to foot ulcers that won't heal.
 
Weinstein said Afrezza could be a game changer for people with both type one and two diabetes.

"Not only is it not only is it the convenience factor but it's also quick acting so it's in and out of your system very fast," said Weinstein.

That means patients can avoid the problematic blood sugar highs and lows that come with typical treatment.

"Until Afrezza, I didn't realize how sick I've been because I've normalized my blood sugar, before dealing with highs and lows and as a diabetic, I get used to it," said Finta.

Finta is planning a walk from Miami to Jacksonville to spread the word.

"I always thought that I was going to be the youngest person to die in my family, but now I have the hope of living a full healthy life," said Finta.

The only potential contraindication with Afrezza - because it's an inhaled powder, it cannot be used by people with long term, chronic lung disease. 


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