Novel nasal spray as an emergency drug for diabetes?

Nasal spray with glucagon could replace syringes with low blood sugar in the future
A newly developed nasal spray contains a hormone that can quickly raise blood sugar levels. Thus, the new drug could be used as an effective emergency aid for diabetics. The results of a recent study showed that this new drug is almost as effective as the current treatment of emergencies with a muscle-injected solution. The results of the study published the American scientists in the journal "Diabetes Care".

Nasal spray helps with injection of too much insulin
Can a conventional nasal spray help diabetics correct their blood sugar levels in an emergency? If diabetics inject too much insulin, it can cause a dramatic drop in their blood sugar. In a recent study, a new nasal spray with powdered glucagon was tested to help sufferers. The hormone quickly increases blood sugar levels. Thus, the spray can also be used to help diabetics in emergency situations, said the physicians around Michael R. Rickels of the University of Pennsylvania. For the study, the researchers had studied 75 subjects. All subjects were adults with type 1 diabetes. The aim of the study was to determine how effective the nasal spray is in comparison to syringe injection. The side effects of the nasal spray were low, but some of the subjects felt an uncomfortable feeling in their head and facial regions, explained the doctors.

New nasal spray against acute emergency situations in diabetes? (Image: Manuel Schäfer / fotolia.com)

Spray much easier to use and almost as effective
The newly developed nasal spray may become the recommended treatment for severe hypoglycaemia if it is approved on the market, the researchers hope. The previous treatment to treat low blood sugar is a powder that is mixed with water. Then the drug is drawn up in a syringe and injected directly into the muscle of the patient. The new nasal spray treatment was almost as effective and very easy to use, the researchers added. The new spray is a great medicine, for years diabetics would have demanded an easy-to-use treatment option.

So far, glucagon was poorly administered in emergencies
The spray could be the solution for patients with diabetes to regulate their blood sugar levels if too much insulin was injected. Such an injection causes a drastic drop in the blood sugar levels of those affected. In some situations, sufferers can correct the problem by sucking candy or drinking orange juice. In really serious cases, they urgently need glucagon. However, this drug has been somewhat difficult to administer. For example, helpers would need to have a vial of glucagon at hand, mix it and then inject it into the muscles of those affected. Concerned ones themselves are not able to inject the drug because of their powerlessness. The advantage of the spray is that this drug does not require mixing and spraying. Everyone is able to simply spray the drug into the nose of an unconscious diabetic, the researchers report. Once sprayed, the contained glucagon is rapidly absorbed through the mucous membranes in the nasal passages. Thus, it can be effective quickly and easily. (As)