Pharmaceutical dosage forms for oral administration to a patient for the
treatment of diabetes, comprising insulin and a delivery agent that
facilitates insulin transport in a therapeutically effective amount to
the bloodstream and that result in a lower incidence of vascular diseases
associated with the repeated administration of insulin are disclosed.
Also disclosed is a method of attenuating the undesirable incidence of
diseases associated with chronic dosing of insulin is provided whereby
the oral administration to a patient of insulin along with a suitable
delivery agent that facilitates the absorption of insulin from the
gastrointestinal tract of the patient in a therapeutically effective
amount, for treatment of diabetes.