VOA慢速英语20060208a

HEALTH REPORT - U.S., European Drug Officials Approve Inhaled¹ InsulinBy Cynthia Kirk

Broadcast: Wednesday, February 08, 2006

I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Health Report.

A form of insulin for people with diabetes² to take by mouth is expected to be sold within a few months. The new medicine is called Exubera. The United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Commission³ both recently approved it for adults.


Inhaler for the new insulin drug Exubera

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. Some patients with lung disease should not take it either.

Three drug companies -- Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis and Nektar Therapeutics -- developed the inhaled insulin. Pfizer recently bought the rights to sell it worldwide.

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.

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. People are advised to have their lungs examined before using Exubera, and at least once a year after that.

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. It is common in people who are overweight and not active.

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. With this type the body is unable to produce insulin.

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.

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk. Internet users can read and listen to our reports at www.unsv.com. I'm Steve Ember.

1 inhaled   

v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. 她合上双眼，深深吸了一口气。
• Janet inhaled sharply when she saw him. 珍妮特看到他时猛地吸了口气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

3 commission   

n.委托，授权，委员会，拥金，回扣，委任状

参考例句：

• The salesman can get commission on everything he sells.这个售货员能得到所售每件货物的佣金。
• The commission is made up of five people,including two women.委员会由五人组成，其中包括两名妇女。

4 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

5 kidney   

n.肾，腰子，类型

参考例句：

• Several of the patients had received kidney transplant.病人中有几位已接受了肾移植手术。
• The operation to transplant a kidney is now fairly routine.肾脏移植手术如今已相当常见。