A review on the effectiveness of oral insulin in type I and type II Diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is now a highly prevalent chronic metabolic disorder that has now encompassed epidemic proportions. With the aim of keeping the blood glucose levels in control, administration of insulin over the years have been done using subcutaneous injections and antidiabetic drugs but some serious disadvantages come along with such therapy like occasional hypoglycemia and patient noncompliance. Thereby leading to alternate methods of insulin delivery such as oral delivery of insulin. An oral form of insulin will not only help in increasing the patient compliance but also help in other effects such as avoidance of peripheral hyperinsulinemia, rapid hepatic insulinization and prevent potential hypoglycemia along with weight gain. In this paper, we would look deeper into the mentioned advantages of oral insulin as well as different formulations used over the years and mainly how it can be compared with subcutaneous delivery of insulin in terms of efficiency and glycemic control.