Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Why is it not feasible to give insulin via the oral route of administration

why is it not feasible to give insulin via the oral route of administration?
why is it not feasible to give insulin (used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus) via the oral route of administration?
Diabetes - 4 Answers
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1 :
Currently there are several options for oral administration of insulin. The one that is used in Europe is bucal (absorbed through the tissues of the mouth). Recently an inhaled form of insulin was FDA approved for use in America. It quickly went out of favor as there was a possibility of permanent lung damage, so it was pulled off the market by the manufacturer. Insulin can not be ingested (swallowed) as the acids in the stomach would destroy it before it could be absorbed. Keep faith, as there are many research projects in the works. A very hopeful one is an inhaled (via the nose) insulin that seems to be doing well!
2 :
Insulin is a peptide. Amino acids are the building blocks of peptides, and peptides are the building blocks of proteins. Your stomach is acidic to break up proteins and peptides into amino acids so that they can be absorbed. The insulin would be digested if you ate it.
3 :
Insulin is simply not absorbed into the body when it is placed into the mouth or swallowed. Inhaled insulin was not removed from the market place due to the potential for lung damage but rather as the insulin levels after inhalation were highly varied. Nasal and trans-cutaneous (applied to the skin) insulin have been tried as well without success. The only good news is that modern analog insulin almost exactly matches the levels of insulin found in a non-diabetic. If I may be of further assistance please let me know. I wish you the very best of health and in all things may God bless.
4 :
Your saliva and stomach acids would destroy anything you took orally.

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