Samuel Grossman, BS Pharm, Pharm.D, CDE Answered 9/9/2015

Afrezza is an inhaled form of insulin that is given before meals just like bolus or mealtime injectable insulin, which means that it is used throughout the day right before the meal. This new form of insulin is absorbed through the lungs while the injectable form of insulin is injected through the subcutaneous tissue in the skin. Inhaled insulin does not penetrate the system better than injected insulin, It is just a different route of medication administration. An equivalent table is used to convert injectable insulin units to inhaled insulin units to provide similar insulin concentration between the two types of insulin products. I would advise to check with your provider to see if you are a good candidate for Afrezza. If you are a good candidate (ex. not a smoker, or evidence of lung disease), you may prefer inhaling insulin as opposed to injecting it before meals, which may improve compliance with your prescribed insulin regimen.