Open AccessInsulin delivery methods: Past, present and future
Author(s) -
Rima Shah,
Manish Patel,
David M. Maahs,
Viral N. Shah
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of pharmaceutical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2230-973X
pISSN - 2230-9713
DOI - 10.4103/2230-973x.176456
Subject(s) - insulin , medicine , transdermal , insulin delivery , lipodystrophy , diabetes mellitus , hyperinsulinemia , pharmacology , type 1 diabetes , endocrinology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , immunology , insulin resistance , antiretroviral therapy , viral load
Many patients with advanced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and all patients with T1DM require insulin to keep blood glucose levels in the target range. The most common route of insulin administration is subcutaneous insulin injections. There are many ways to deliver insulin subcutaneously such as vials and syringes, insulin pens, and insulin pumps. Though subcutaneous insulin delivery is the standard route of insulin administration, it is associated with injection pain, needle phobia, lipodystrophy, noncompliance and peripheral hyperinsulinemia. Therefore, the need exists for delivering insulin in a minimally invasive or noninvasive and in most physiological way. Inhaled insulin was the first approved noninvasive and alternative way to deliver insulin, but it has been withdrawn from the market. Technologies are being explored to make the noninvasive delivery of insulin possible. Some of the routes of insulin administration that are under investigation are oral, buccal, nasal, peritoneal and transdermal. This review article focuses on the past, present and future of various insulin delivery techniques. This article has focused on different possible routes of insulin administration with its advantages and limitation and possible scope for the new drug development.