Fast Facts: Inhaled Insulin

Afrezza® is the only ultra rapid-acting inhaled insulin
available on the market. Learn how inhaled
insulin works below in our Afrezza® Fast Facts.

Is Afrezza® an inhalable insulin mist?

No. Afrezza® is an ultra rapid-acting inhaled dry powder insulin indicated for adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

How can I get insulin without a needle?

There are options for those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes to get insulin without a needle. One option is Afrezza®, the only ultra-rapid acting inhaled insulin available on the market.

How much does insulin you inhale cost?

Most insurance plans will cover inhaled insulin, and most patients do not pay the list price for Afrezza®. For eligible commercially-insured patients, the Afrezza® Savings Card may reduce the out-of-pocket cost to as little as $35. Make sure to download your Afrezza® Savings Card before picking up your prescription at the pharmacy for savings.

Is inhaled insulin safe?

Afrezza® inhaled insulin is safe, effective and FDA approved. The most common side effects are: low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), cough, and sore throat. Please see Important Safety Information below.

Can I use inhaled insulin if I have type 2 diabetes?

Yes! Afrezza® inhaled insulin provides glucose management for adults living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Does inhaled insulin work for type 1 diabetes?

Afrezza® is a needle-free mealtime insulin option that can be used by adults living with type 1 diabetes.

What brands offer inhaled insulin?

Afrezza® is the only ultra rapid-acting inhaled insulin available on the market for adults living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

How do you inhale insulin?

Afrezza® is an ultra rapid-acting inhaled insulin, available in single use cartridges administered via the Afrezza® oral inhaler. For more information, you can download our step-by-step guide, or watch the How to Use Afrezza® video.

Who makes insulin human inhalation powder?

MannKind Corporation is the manufacturer of Afrezza®, the only ultra rapid-acting inhaled insulin for adults living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

What is the most common adverse reaction of inhaled insulin therapy?

People taking Afrezza® may experience some side effects. Since Afrezza® is an inhaled powder, you may experience a cough when you start Afrezza®. Other common side effects of inhaled insulin therapy may include low blood sugar and a sore throat. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.

How long after taking Afrezza does the insulin powder begin to work?

Afrezza® ultra rapid-acting inhaled insulin powder starts lowering your blood sugar in about 12 minutes and leaves the body quickly, within 1.5–3 hours, depending on your dose.

*For the 4-unit and 12-unit cartridges, respectively

Have more questions?

Get more information in our FAQs and
our easy to read Afrezza® A-Z guide

*What you pay for Afrezza® will depend on your insurance plan. Each plan has different preferred drug lists and out-of-pocket amounts, and most include an annual deductible. If you haven’t met your deductible, you’ll see higher prices until the deductible is met, then your out-of-pocket cost will likely drop. This offer is available for patients with commercial drug insurance coverage. It is not valid for patients enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal or state healthcare programs. Maximum savings limit applies; patient out-of-pocket expense may vary. If the patient’s health plan does not cover Afrezza® or requires a prior authorization, contact AfrezzaAssist℠ for more information. If approved by the patient’s health plan to take Afrezza®, a patient will pay as little as $35 per month. This applies to patient out-of-pocket costs, including deductible, co-insurance, and copayments for Afrezza®. See full Program Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility Criteria.

References:

Afrezza^® (insulin human) Inhalation Powder Prescribing Information. MannKind Corporation.
Akturk HK, Snell-Bergeon JK, Rewers A, et al. Improved post-prandial glucose with inhaled Technosphere insulin compared with insulin aspart in patients with type 1 diabetes on multiple daily injections: the STAT study. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2018;20(10):639-647.
Bode BW, McGill JB, Lorber DL, et al. Inhaled Technosphere insulin compared with injected prandial insulin in type 1 diabetes: a randomized 24-week trial. Diabetes Care. 2015;38(12):2266–2273.
Rave K, Heise T, Heinemann L, Boss AH. Inhaled Technosphere insulin in comparison to subcutaneous regular human insulin: time action proﬁle and variability in subjects with type 2 diabetes.
J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2008;2(2):205–12.
Rosenstock J, Franco D, Korpachev V, et al. Inhaled Technosphere insulin versus inhaled Technosphere placebo in insulin-naive subjects with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on oral antidiabetes agent. Diabetes Care. 2015;38(12):2274–2281.

US-AFR-2212

What is AFREZZA?

AFREZZA is a man-made insulin that is breathed-in through your lungs (inhaled) and is used to control high blood sugar in adults with diabetes mellitus.

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about AFREZZA? AFREZZA can cause serious side effects, including:

Sudden lung problems (bronchospasms). In a study, some AFREZZA-treated patients with asthma, whose asthma medication was temporarily withheld, experienced sudden lung problems. Do not use AFREZZA if you have long-term (chronic) lung problems such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Before starting AFREZZA, your healthcare provider will give you a breathing test to check how your lungs are working.

Important Safety Information(cont’d)

Who should not use Afrezza®?

Do not use Afrezza® if you:

Have chronic lung problems such as asthma or COPD.
Are allergic to regular human insulin or any of the ingredients in Afrezza®.
Are having an episode of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Afrezza®?

Before using Afrezza®, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

Have lung problems such as asthma or COPD
Have or have had lung cancer
Are using any inhaled medications
Smoke or have recently stopped smoking
Have kidney or liver problems
Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Afrezza® may harm your unborn or breastfeeding baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins or herbal supplements.

Before you start using Afrezza®, talk to your healthcare provider about low blood sugar and how to manage it.

What should I avoid while using Afrezza®?

While using Afrezza® do not:

Drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how Afrezza® affects you.
Drink alcohol or use over-the-counter medicines that contain alcohol.
Smoke.

What are the possible side effects of Afrezza®?

Afrezza® may cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including:

See “What is the most important information I should know about Afrezza®?”

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Signs and symptoms that may indicate low blood sugar include:
- Dizziness or light-headedness, sweating, confusion, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety, irritability or mood change, hunger.
Decreased lung function. Your healthcare provider should check how your lungs are working before you start using AFREZZA, 6 months after you start using it, and yearly after that.
Lung cancer. In studies of Afrezza® in people with diabetes, lung cancer occurred in a few more people who were taking Afrezza® than in people who were taking other diabetes medications. There were too few cases to know if lung cancer was related to Afrezza®. If you have lung cancer, you and your healthcare provider should decide if you should use Afrezza®.
Diabetic ketoacidosis. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have an illness. Your Afrezza® dose or how often you check your blood sugar may need to be changed.
Severe allergic reaction (whole body reaction). Get medical help right away if you have any of these signs or symptoms of a severe allergic reaction:
- A rash over your whole body, trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, or sweating.

Low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia).
Heart failure. Taking certain diabetes pills called thiazolidinediones or “TZDs” with Afrezza® may cause heart failure in some people. This can happen even if you have never had heart failure or heart problems before. If you already have heart failure it may get worse while you take TZDs with Afrezza®. Your healthcare provider should monitor you closely while you are taking TZDs with Afrezza®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worse symptoms of heart failure including:
- Shortness of breath, swelling of your ankles or feet, sudden weight gain.

Treatment with TZDs and Afrezza® may need to be changed or stopped by your healthcare provider if you have new or worse heart failure.

Get emergency medical help if you have:

• Trouble breathing, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, sweating, extreme drowsiness, dizziness, confusion.

The most common side effects of Afrezza® include:

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), cough, sore throat

These are not all the possible side effects of Afrezza®. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Please See Full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING, Medication Guide and Instructions for Use for AFREZZA.

Medication Guide

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