MannKind Corporation has announced its inhalable insulin, Afrezza, is officially FDA cleared for use in children and adolescents ages 6 and older living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The certification comes after over 20 years of studies involving pediatric patients testing the clinical efficacy and gathering safety evidence from thousands of patients.

Once inhaled, Afrezza delivers insulin through the lungs, allowing for ultra-rapid absorption into the bloodstream. It starts controlling glucose levels in about 12 minutes, much faster than injected rapid-acting insulins. Because of this, pre-bolusing isulin for meals isn’t required. It also leaves the body faster, typically in about 1.5 to 3 hours, offering flexibile dosing around activity and meals. Afrezza comes in pre-dosed 4, 8, and 12 unit cartridges, but dosing doesn’t translate 1:1 with injected insulin—roughly speaking, inhaled insulin doses are often about double an injectable rapid-acting dose.

Afrezza was initially approved by the FDA in 2014 for adults 18+. This is a big step forward for young people with diabetes as Afrezza is needle-free and has the flexibility to cater to real-life, and in-the-moment circumstances. I spoke with an Afrezza user on our podcast and learned about their experience with the flexible dosing and how this treatment differs from traditional insulin.

MannKind has stated they are committed to prescription accessibility and Afrezza is now available for eligible patients for $35 or less per month.

Would you try inhalable insulin or would you let your kid use it? Let us know in the comments!

Disclaimer: Diabetech content is not medical advice—it’s for educational purposes only. Always consult with a healthcare team before making changes to your treatment.