$Unique_ID{BRK01941}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Where is the Insulin Patch?}
$Subject{Insulin Patch patches diabetes diabetic diabetics injection
injections difficulty difficulties body problem problems irritate irritated
irritation irritations skin medication medications Food Drug Administration
safe effective effectiveness dose dosage estrogen anti-smoking}
$Volume{}
$Log{
The Functions of Insulin*0009803.scf}

Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Where is the Insulin Patch?


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QUESTION:  I am a diabetic, on regular daily doses of insulin.  I was so
pleased to hear of the new insulin patch.  After years of giving myself the
injections, it will be a pleasant relief.  Unfortunately there was no
information about where you can get the patches, and my pharmacist says he
hasn't heard either.  Can you help us find them?  Thank you.

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ANSWER:  Sorry, but once again the reports you may have read in the papers or
heard on TV are a bit premature.  They were the result of a public relations
press release, and not an announcement of the availability of the patch, which
may still be some time in coming.
     At present, one company that is researching the use of patches to deliver
your needed insulin requirement has filed for a patent on their method.  Until
they obtain this, they have decided not to publish any of their research
results.  The difficulty with the use of skin patches to get the insulin into
your body is that the size of an insulin molecule is relatively large, and so
is difficult to move into the body through the protective layers of the skin.
Another problem with the use of skin patches is that they tend to irritate the
skin, as they are generally applied for relatively long periods of time, to
permit the medication to get through.
     Once the company receives its patent protection, it must then apply to
the Food and Drug Administration, and prove that the patch, which is
considered a device, is both safe and effective.  That means that it would
have to release the exact dose of insulin over the specified time to control
the blood sugar.
     Many insulin dependent diabetics are awaiting the approval of this method
which could greatly simplify their lives.  Since the patch has become a
successful manner of delivering estrogen, or anti-smoking medications, the
interest in this manner of delivering other medications has grown.  It is
estimated that the cost of the insulin patches would closely approximate the
current costs of insulin, syringe and alcohol swabs included.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.