For diabetics who find the daily insulin injections too painful or otherwise uncomfortable, alternatives may well be in the offing. While clinical trials are going on in six major City hospitals for inhaled insulin, preliminary tests have begun for oral insulin in three centres here.
Endocrinologists on Friday discussed the new alternatives at the 3rd Annual Conference on Diagnosis, Evaluation & Screening for complications, Education, Research and Treatment options (DESERT-2007) organised by the Diabetes Club of Bangalore.

Oral insulin
Oral insulin is in tablet form and, if the tests are successful, inhaled insulin may hit the Indian market in a year’s time, according to MS Ramiah Hospital  Associate Endocrinology Consultant Sanjay Reddy. 
While many multinationals are conducting tests worldwide, only Exubera, an inhalant, has secured approval for marketing in the US so far, he says. However, the downside of inhaled insulin could include the high cost factor.
Side-effects could include mild cough, upper respiratory infection and decrease in pulmonary functions, which are reversible, Dr Reddy said.
Day 1 of DESERT kicked off with a session on Continuing Medical Education for PG students, physicians and general practitioners. There was a debate on which was better -- regular insulin or the latest insulin analogs (designer insulin). Considering cost and long-term safety, regular insulin seems as effective as the analogs “as of now”.
New drugs to prevent complications arising out of diabetes, and diabetes in special situations like in HIV patients were also discussed.