INSULIN TREATED PATIENTS

Objective: To determine the trends in insulin injection technique and associatedcomplications in the local diabetic patients. Study Design: Cross-Sectional Descriptive study.Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Department of Medicine at FatimaMemorial College & Hospital Lahore from 25th May 2015 to 25th October 2015. Patientsand Method: Three hundred patients above 18 years of age who presented in outdoor andindoor department of the hospital, gave consent were enrolled. The data was collected throughinterview and relevant physical examination; data was analyzed by using SPSS 20.0 version.Results: 300 diabetics were enrolled; 108 (36%) male and 192 (64%) female. Mean age inmales was 52.8±13.7 and in females was 52.2±11.8. Duration of insulin use was less than5 years in 175 (58%) and 5 years or more in 125 (42%). Insulin syringe of 8 mm gauge wasbeing used by 263 (87%). Abdomen was the injection site in 202 (67%); however, 279 (93%)rotated the injection site. The angle of injection was kept at 90 degrees by 254 (85%). Theneedle was reused for five or more times by 187 (52%) and 216 (72%) were self-injecting. Localcomplications were seen in 105 (35%); out of those pain was most commonly (35 %) reported.Among age groups significant association (p<0.05) was seen in site of insulin delivery, in agemore than 60 years more injected in abdomen. In gender groups more males (83%) wereself-injecting. Significant association (p<0.05) was seen in duration of insulin use and localcomplications. Majority, 126(72%) of those who were on insulin for less than 5 years did nothave complications. Conclusion: Majority of our patients had adopted reasonable techniquehowever repeated reinforcement can further improve appropriate insulin delivery, less wastageof insulin and better glycemic control with less chance of complications.