Injecting insulin correctly is an important part of your patient’s diabetes management1
Proper injection technique can help lower A1C2*
In a study of patients with diabetes who inject insulin, patients educated on proper injection technique (including using a new needle for every injection, rotating injection sites, and shifting to a 4mm or 5mm needle) experienced a 1% reduction in A1C at 6 months.2*
Components of proper injection technique training include
Using a new needle
Rotating injection sites
Using a shorter needle
Remind your patients to use a new needle every time they inject
Using a new needle matters because:
- Needles are no longer sterile after use.
- Reuse may increase the risk of injection pain and bleeding.1†
- Reuse has been associated with increased risk of developing lipohypertrophy1,3, which can contribute to erratic insulin absorption, increased glycemic variability, and unexplained hypoglycemic episodes.3†
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Encourage your patients to rotate injection sites
Lipohypertrophy, or lipo, can be caused by incorrect injection site rotation. Injection site rotation appears to be the most important factor in protecting against lipo.4
Download our Site Rotation Guide Download Tummy Template
Consider dispensing shorter needles for your patients, like NanoTM 4mm Pen Needles
Longer needles can increase the chance of injecting into the muscle. Clinical recommendations state that a 4mm pen needle or 6mm insulin syringe is the recommended needle length for all patients.1
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Learn About Us*116 patients with diabetes on insulin were randomized to 3 intervention groups to assess the change from baseline in A1C at 6 months following structured injection technique training and changing to a shorter needle length (4mm or 5mm pen needle). Baseline A1C for all groups was similar (mean: 8.5-8.8% [± 1.4-1.9%]).
†Injection pain and unpleasantness have not been clearly associated with limited needle reuse.
References
1. Frid AH, Kreugel G, Grassi G, et al. New insulin delivery recommendations. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016;91(9):1231-1255.
2. Misnikova IV, Gubkina VA, Lakeeva TS, Dreval AV. A randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of proper insulin injection technique training on glycemic control. Diabetes Ther. 2017;8(6):1309-1318.
3. Frid AH, Hirsch LJ, Menchior AR, et al. Worldwide injection technique questionnaire study: injecting complications and the role of the professional. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016;91(9):1224-1230.
4. Blanco M, Hernández MT, Strauss KW, Amaya M. Prevalence and risk factors of lipohypertrophy in insulin-injecting patients with diabetes. Diabetes Metab. 2013;39(5):445-453.