The editorial concludes: 'Inhaled insulin will cost an additional £500 per patient per year. Clearly, it is not suitable for everyone with diabetes. For the group that might arguably benefit most from avoiding or minimising injections--children and adolescents--there is currently insufficient evidence on efficacy and safety. Long-term safety data are still lacking in terms of lung damage and effects on the development of insulin antibodies. With these caveats in mind, however, it should be left to the individual physicians in discussion with their patients to make appropriate use of this new technology.'
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