New delivery provides innovation in diabetes management

Diabetes, a disease with no cure, now is affecting 7 percent of the U.S. population, or 20.8 million adults and children.

The disease impacts the body’s ability to produce insulin, resulting in high glucose or blood sugar levels. Treatment remains focused on managing those levels through insulin treatments, primarily synthetic forms. When not in balance, diabetes can result in numerous complications, including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and more.

Thus direct medical costs associated with diabetes are high. The most recent data from the American Diabetes Association estimate costs at $92 billion, up from $44 billion in 1997. That figure represents $23.2 billion for diabetes care, $24.6 billion for chronic diabetes-related complications and $44.1 billion for resulting general medical conditions. Add to that indirect costs projected at $40.8 billion for lost workdays, permanent disability and other resulting social conditions, for a total of $132 billion in direct and indirect medical costs.

In 2002, the most current data available, diabetes-related hospitalizations totaled 16.9 million days, while physician office visits reached 62.6 million.

Among adults with diagnosed diabetes, 16 percent take insulin only, 12 percent take both insulin and oral medication, 57 percent take oral medication only and 15 percent do not take either insulin or an oral medication, according to the ADA. There are two types of diabetes, type 1, the more severe case, and type 2. Type 2 is more widespread, representing 90 percent to 95 percent of all cases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control approximately 60 percent do not achieve their target blood sugar level with their current regime. New products are continuously in development to improve glucose regulation.

Injection pens, offering a convenient alternative to vials and syringes, have been making strides. Sanofi recently released the Lantus SoloSTAR pen. Novo Nordisk expanded its Clayton, N.C., manufacturing facility to meet increasing demand for its FlexPen, and Eli Lilly introduced the HumaPen Memior, a digital insulin pen with memory.

Exubera, the first inhaled insulin, has suffered disappointing sales since its introduction last year. Meanwhile, Generex Biotechnology Corp. is commencing phase III trials of its Oral-lyn, on oral insulin spray that would be absorbed through the lining of the mouth.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert on the Avandia pill for a possible link to heart problems. Ready to pick up some sales is Merck’s new Januvia pill. Additionally, Novartis is awaiting approval for its Galvus pill.