Abstract

Doctor, stop needling me: an update on alternative routes of insulin administration

Author(s): Erin D Roe, Jason S Woo & Philip Raskin

Since its introduction, insulin therapy for diabetes has long been equated with pain, anxiety, lifestyle inconvenience and potential injection-site irritation and lipodystrophy. Efforts to develop noninvasive methods for insulin delivery have relied on molecular modifications, absorption enhancers and encapsulation techniques to resist degradation, promote drug penetration and achieve therapeutic plasma insulin levels. Product development attempts have targeted virtually every mucosal membrane in the body for potential drug delivery. Each administration route has unique physiologic constraints. Potential alternative insulin therapies are discussed with their respective technical challenges. An overview of new drug-delivery platforms currently in development is also provided.