U.S., European drug officials approve inhaled² insulin

A form of insulin for people with diabetes³ to take by mouth is expected to be sold within a few months. The new medicine is called Exubera.1 The United States Food and Drug Administration2 and the European Commission3 both recently approved it for adults. It could make life easier for many diabetics who require daily injections of insulin to control their blood sugar levels. But it will not replace all insulin injections. And it is not for everyone. People who smoke or have stopped smoking for less than six months should not take Exubera. __________(1)__________

Three drug companies -- Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis and Nektar Therapeutics -- developed the inhaled insulin. __________(2)__________ Experts say about fifteen percent of diabetics who need insulin do not take it. The treatment can involve several injections each day.

Insulin is a hormone⁴ that the body uses to change food into energy. Failure to control blood sugar levels can lead to serious problems, including blindness and loss of blood flow to the feet. It can also lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney⁵ failure.4 Insulin has been sold as a drug since the nineteen twenties. This is the first new way to take it. Exubera uses a powder breathed into the lungs through a mouthpiece. Pfizer will study the long-term effects. It says some patients have reported a mild cough while using the inhaled insulin. __________(3)__________

Many people do not know they have diabetes. There are two forms. Most diabetics have the Type Two form. Their body does not make enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. __________(4)__________ Most Type Two diabetics do not take insulin. Their medicines can be taken by mouth. Diet, exercise and weight control are also important. Type One diabetes often begins in childhood. __________(5)__________

Officials say diabetics with either type could use inhaled insulin, either before or after a meal. But Type One diabetics and some with Type Two would still need a longer-lasting injection at least once a day.

词汇：

inhale¹ vt. 吸入 vi. 吸气

insulin n. 胰岛素

diabetes n. 糖尿病；多尿症

diabetic adj. 糖尿病的  n. 糖尿病患者

injection n. 注射；注射液，针剂

therapeutics n. 治疗学；疗法，治疗

hormone n. 激素，荷尔蒙

stroke n.（疾病）发作；中风

mouthpiece n. 接口管

注释：

1.        Exubera：一种胰岛素雾化吸入剂的商品名 

2.        United States Food and Drug Administration：美国食品及药品管理局 

3.        European Commission：欧盟委员会（简称欧委会，是欧盟的常设机构，也是欧盟唯一有权起草法令的机构） 

4.        kidney failure：肾衰竭（这里failure是“衰竭”的意思）