Are You Fearful of Trying Inhaled Insulin? Is It An Upgrade Your Life Deserves?

Many women feel uncertain, hesitant, and fearful about trying inhaled insulin. If you can relate, you’re not alone.  And you’re not wrong for feeling that way. Fear is normal when it comes to something as life-impacting as insulin. Inhaled insulin might sound futuristic – but what if it’s actually the upgrade your life deserves?

What Is Inhaled Insulin and How Does It Work?

Simply put, inhaled insulin is an ultra-rapid-acting insulin that is inhaled as a dry powder through the mouth and delivered into the lungs using a small inhaler about the size of a whistle. It’s similar to how asthma inhalers work, which you may have seen advertised. Inhaled insulin starts working in about 12 minutes, and is usually gone within 1.5-3 hours – faster than injected rapid-acting insulin. 

Inhaled insulin is there when you need it and gone when you don’t. Whether adding on inhaled insulin or replacing injected or infused meal-time insulin with inhaled insulin, because of its quick action you can dose when your food is ready to eat, and quickly correct any after-meal spikes. If needed, additional inhaled insulin can be given as soon as an hour after the meal. That is very different than other fast-acting insulin where the recommendation is to wait 3-4 hours between doses to prevent stacking insulin and resulting low glucose. While inhaled insulin can be used to replace all fast-acting meal-time insulin, it does not replace background (basal) insulin. So, it’s important to continue to take any background insulin, whether delivered by injection or an insulin pump. 

You won’t want to miss this video series “Exploring Inhaled Insulin: Benefits, Usage, and Beyond” with Dr. Diana Isaacs.

Why Some Women Feel Hesitant About Inhaled Insulin

Maybe you’ve relied on injections or an insulin pump for years. You’ve mastered needles. That’s what’s familiar. But what if the next step in your diabetes management felt more like freedom than change? Or perhaps your provider has suggested adding insulin for the first time, and the very idea of an injection sends you into a sweat. Fear of insulin injections is common. What if taking that insulin needle-free was the next step toward feeling better?

Common Concerns and What the Science Says

Let’s look at 5 important common concerns women have about inhaled insulin that deserve honest and evidence-based answers. They deserve room for hope – and maybe even relief. Let’s replace fear with facts.

• Lung health and safety. This is a totally reasonable concern. After all, we’re taught to protect our lungs. The idea of inhaling insulin may feel counterintuitive or even risky. But you should feel confident that inhaled insulin has been studied extensively and was approved by the FDA in 2014. The dry powder insulin formulation was designed specifically for lung absorption. The technology ensures that only a very small amount of insulin enters the lungs – just enough to do its job. In clinical trials and real-world use, inhaled insulin has shown no increased risk of lung infections, cancer, or serious lung damage. 

• Side effects. The main side effects that some notice are a mild cough, sore throat, or airway irritation. A cough is usually a dry cough that occurs within 10 minutes of inhalation and generally gets better after continued use. For women with healthy lungs, inhaled insulin has been shown to be both safe and effective. That said, inhaled insulin is not recommended for anyone with asthma, chronic lung disease, or who smokes. As with other fast-acting insulin use, hypoglycemia remains a potential side effect. However, because it acts ultra-fast, does its work, and leaves the body quickly, many people find that fewer quick-acting carbs are required to treat hypoglycemia. Others using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) have shared that when they see two down arrows indicating glucose rapidly falling, the glucose drop often stops and levels out faster than expected.

• Effectiveness. Again this is a valid concern. Constantly managing your glucose is hard work. You may think why risk rocking the boat? Consider this: The 2025 Standards of Care in Diabetes evidence-based guidelines for managing were expanded this year to address inhaled insulin. The 2025 Standards acknowledge that inhaled insulin can be an effective option for people with diabetes, providing an alternative method of insulin delivery with very fast onset of action. (page S154)

Inhaled insulin has been proven very effective at lowering post-meal glucose spikes. In fact, because it acts so quickly, many users experience fewer post-meal spikes and more stable numbers after eating. Some women even find they can enjoy meals more freely – without having to pre-bolus so far in advance or worry about food absorption timing. It provides glucose management in the moment.

And because of its quick in and out, inhaled insulin can be used to correct above-range glucose in women with type 1 or type 2 who need mealtime insulin, minimizing the risk of stacking insulin. Ultimately, that means reduced risk of hypoglycemia, and thus reduced anxiety. It’s all about the timing. Of course everybody is different. Don’t let the myth of “inhaled insulin is less effective” hold you back. It may be even MORE effective for you.

• Stigma. When it comes to medical devices, many women find them to feel unfamiliar and overwhelming. There’s comfort in what you know and it may be challenging to consider change. However, if you could make diabetes management feel less intrusive, more discreet and didn’t have to worry about finding somewhere to prepare and take an injection, plus deal with safe sharps disposal, wouldn’t that be a game changer for you? Many women come to find inhaled insulin empowering to use, whether at a restaurant, traveling, or simply managing a busy day. 

• Coverage and Cost. As with any prescription medication, insurance coverage and cost are determinants. Most insurance plans will cover inhaled insulin, with most people not having to pay the list price. Check with your insurance to know what to expect before heading to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. Check the manufacturer’s website to see if you qualify for a Savings Card that can reduce the out-of-pocket cost to as little as $35 a month. Check out this video with steps to get navigate insurance coverage. 

Real Talk: One Woman’s Story

An impactful real life experience using inhaled insulin is a woman in her 30’s who appreciated the benefits of inhaled insulin when going out for dinner and an evening with her friends. She recounted on one such occasion, the food options available at the restaurant were different than what she planned on (they had run out of her top two choices). The food arrived unpredictably (the restaurant was packed). And she was more active than usual walking to and from dinner and going to a club after dinner.

She routinely managed her type 1 diabetes with multiple daily injections (MDI), but found in scenarios like this that inhaled insulin was her saving grace as a replacement for her meal time fast-acting insulin. She said she carried glucose tablets in her pocket in case her glucose dropped, and she carried her inhaled insulin in her bag so she could dose when her meal actually arrived, and quickly and discreetly manage any unexpected spikes after the meal. She worried less about going out of range because she could make corrections quickly. Non-injection insulin provided her with confidence and a feeling of relief in this situation.

Is Inhaled Insulin Right for You? What to Ask Your Provider

You’re right to ask questions about what goes into your body. You have a choice. Among the insulin options for women, if hesitancy or fear of inhaled insulin has been a deterrent to serious consideration, now you have the facts to replace the fear. What if there was a way to make insulin use a little easier and more compatible with the way YOU live YOUR life?  Could inhaled insulin be a choice you want to explore trying? Or discuss with your healthcare team as a diabetes management tool? Take our quiz to see if inhaled insulin might be a good fit for you. 

Maybe it’s time to talk with your provider – not with pressure but with curiosity – about whether non-injection inhaled insulin should be one of your diabetes management tools. You can download this tip sheet to take with you to facilitate the conversation. 

3 questions to ask your provider:

• Would I be a candidate for inhaled insulin?
• How would it fit in my current diabetes management plan? 
• Do you have samples where I could try a trial dose? 

From Fear to Confidence: Why Not Give Inhaled Insulin a Try?

What if you had newfound confidence? One less thing to delay or dread…a moment of relief in an otherwise complicated daily routine? Why not explore inhaled insulin as part of your diabetes management plan?  You deserve comfort. You deserve options. You deserve to feel like your care plan supports you and your life.

Ready to learn more?
Visit our new Inhaled Insulin Hub for expert insights, tip sheets, and real stories from women like you. You’ll also find ways to connect with peers who are exploring or using inhaled insulin—because you don’t have to navigate this alone.

About the Author:
Tami Ross is a registered dietitian and a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. She is a national thought leader, speaker, and health and nutrition writer. Tami has authored 11 books and more than 100 peer-reviewed and consumer publications. She is a Past President of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists and has held numerous positions in state and national organizations related to diabetes care. Tami has devoted her entire career to the diabetes space, working in a variety of healthcare settings and her successful consulting business. Her passion lies in translating science into practice in ways that are understandable and doable, empowering those with diabetes to live life to the fullest.