Diabetes product discontinued

It has been reported by the chief medical officer, Dr. Joseph Feczko of Pfizer Inc., that on Oct. 18 the inhaled insulin Exubera was discontinued.

Feczko writes that Exubera is a safe product and the feedback from Exubera patients was positive. The removal of Exubera from the market is not due to safety reasons. This decision comes from loss of revenue.

Exubera was a prescription medicine that you would breathe in through your mouth instead of daily injection with insulin. This short-acting insulin helped to control high blood sugar in adults with diabetes.

This is the process in which Exubera is being removed from the market:

1. The manufacturer notifies the prescribing physician to begin moving their patients off of Exubera to other medicines that will control high blood sugar levels.

2. Pfizer will continue to have Exubera available for the next three months to allow enough time for the physician make the transition.

For more information on the discontinuation of Exubera, contact your doctor and the Exubera center at (800) 398-2372.

Do not stop taking Exubera without first discussing this with your doctor. Exubera is a safe product. It was discontinued due to loss in revenue.

Make excellent choices every day. Don’t let diabetes control you. You are in control.

Kaishawn McDuffie is a registered nurse and a certified diabetes educator. She has been a healthcare professional since 1990. She has served 12 years in the US Navy, specializing in diabetes for the past four years.