Exubera Uses

Exubera uses include the treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The medication is inhaled into the lungs before each meal and works to lower blood sugar. As a result, Exubera can decrease the chances of developing problems associated with high blood sugar, such as heart disease, diabetic impotence, and kidney failure. There are no universally accepted off-label Exubera uses, nor is the drug given to children.

 
In October 2007, Pfizer announced it will stop making Exubera. This decision was voluntary and was not based on any safety concern; Pfizer states that Exubera has not met its expectations in terms of sales. Starting in October 2007, Exubera will be available for an additional three months, which will give people enough time to change from Exubera to another type of insulin or other diabetes medication.
 

Exubera Uses: An Overview

Exubera® (inhaled insulin) is a prescription medication licensed to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults. Unlike other forms of insulin, which need to be injected, Exubera is inhaled into the lungs through the mouth. It is a short-acting (rapid-acting) insulin that is used before meals. The medication is not designed to replace long-acting insulin.
 

Exubera Uses for Type 1 Diabetes

 Type 1 diabetes usually begins in young children and teenagers. People with this type of diabetes have a pancreas that doesn't produce enough insulin or that stops producing it altogether. People with this condition need to have insulin on a regular basis to help keep their blood sugar at the right level.
 
Currently, using a combination of different types of insulin is recommended for many people with type 1 diabetes. Often, a long-acting insulin is used to mimic the baseline level of insulin that the pancreas would produce all the time. A short-acting insulin is then added to handle the rise in blood sugar that happens after meals. Intermediate-acting and combination insulins are also available.
 
Exubera acts like a rapid-acting insulin because it begins to work within 10 minutes. However, it lasts just as long as regular insulin.
 
For people with type 1 diabetes, Exubera is used just before meals to help control blood sugar afterwards. Because it is short-acting, it cannot be used to replace long-acting insulin. As with any insulin, you will need to continue testing your blood sugar as before, and you may even need to test it more often when first starting Exubera.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;