I reported on this new drug earlier today; here's an update. If you are diabetic and are considering asking your doctor about new inhaled insulin Exubera, there's one thing you should know: If you are inhaling insulin you should not be inhaling cigarette smoke. Study researchers have found that smoking greatly affects how Exubera is absorbed into the bloodstream, altering its potency and insulin levels. And rapid changes in insulin levels can result in very low blood sugar levels.

In fact, doctors involved in the study recommend that if diabetics want to use Exubera, they should stop smoking at least six months before starting it -- and make sure to stop the treatment if they start smoking again. So, if you're tracking this drug (available this summer, about six months from now) and are a smoker anxious to rid yourself of the daily injections, this might be just the impetus you're looking for to stop a habit that carries so many obvious risks. And it will certainly help you breathe easier on several levels.

That's the latest. I'll continue to track developments surrounding this drug. If any readers have more information, let me know.