No one knows except Mannkind and the authors of the study. Best guess is that Afrezza, along with the use of a CGM (continues glucose monitor) shoes Afrezza does a better job of keeping glucose levels steady, ie in range, than prandial injected insulin thus resulting in a better A1C.
It is something we have already seen in many who are currently using Afrezza along with a CGM.
The hope is that this will convince stubborn Endos to start seriously looking at Afrezza for their patients.