Healthy Living

Can Oral Therapy Replace Insulin In Diabetes for Those with Cystic Fibrosis?

Patients can have more freedom in making decisions

The researchers explain, "repaglinide represents an alternative treatment to insulin for patients with newly diagnosed asymptomatic cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. Treatment with an oral antidiabetic drug is less invasive than multiple daily injections, which might be particularly important for patients who already have a complex and demanding pharmaceutical therapy schedule that includes antibiotics, pancreatic enzymes, bronchodilators, and mucolytic agents, and additional supportive care. Treatment with an oral antidiabetic drug might reduce the treatment burden for patients and the care burden for their caregivers."

This note from the researchers emphasizes just how important this breakthrough may be. Not only is it important to have options in general for your course of treatment, but for many insulin can literally be overwhelming in conjunction with their preexisting care routines, so a less invasive measure could act as a particular benefit. Formerly, many had to feel ashamed or dissuaded from the choice of repaglinide or other forms of oral treatment due to the misguided notion that it was less effective; however, now patients can feel more free to make whatever decision they are more comfortable with, knowing that each option has approximately equal efficacy.