Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction

Insulin remains the cornerstone of therapy in a substantial number of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Inadequate knowledge regarding insulin pen usage is likely to influence its acceptance and adherence, and outcome of therapy, underscoring need to teach proper injection pen technique to T2DM patients

Methods

In 2019–2020 we conducted survey of 328 respondents (male: 202, female: 126), novel Insulin pen user patients who were enrolled as outpatient in a Diabetes clinic during last one years (2019–2020), to assess the ability to use insulin pen after one demonstration by an insulin advisor.

Results

Out of 328 respondents 34% were not able to use insulin pen injections after first demonstration. the inability to use insulin pen was more in rural patients 63%, in females 58% as compared to males 42%, was more in lower educational status and was more in basic phone users 72% as compared to smart phone users 38%.

Discussion

This study shows that there is a pressing need to develop strategies to teach patient in a better way to self-administer insulin via insulin pen. We can predict based on educational status and other parameters mentioned in study to give more elaborate training to those groups in need. And there is a further need to study the efficacy and adaptability of various ways of teaching patients about the insulin pen.

Keywords

Diabetes, insulin injection, insulin pen, patient knowledge.