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[Insulin pen in the treatment of childhood diabetes]
1Barneklinikken Haukeland sykehus, Bergen.
Insights
The Insuject insulin pen simplifies injections for children with diabetes, improving self-management and maintaining good metabolic control. This study shows the pen is safe and effective for pediatric diabetes care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Diabetes Management
- Medical Devices
Context:
- Transitioning pediatric patients from traditional insulin syringes to insulin pen devices.
- Evaluating the usability and impact of the Insuject insulin pen in children with diabetes.
- Assessing the efficacy of standard insulin mixtures with an insulin pen device.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Insuject insulin pen in pediatric patients with diabetes.
- To assess the impact of insulin pen use on children's self-injection capabilities and motivation.
- To determine the effect of switching to an insulin pen and standard mixtures on glycemic control (HbA1c).
Summary:
- 37 children with diabetes switched from syringes to the Insuject insulin pen with standard insulin mixtures.
- Families reported significantly easier injections, leading to increased child motivation and self-administration.
- Glycemic control, measured by HbA1c, remained stable throughout the one-year study period.
- Seven families voluntarily increased injection frequency from twice to thrice daily for improved management.
Impact:
- The Insuject insulin pen is a safe and reliable tool for managing childhood diabetes.
- Insulin pen devices can enhance patient adherence and self-efficacy in pediatric diabetes care.
- Effective glycemic control is achievable with readily available commercial insulin mixtures and modern delivery devices.
Abstract:
37 diabetic children changed from insulin syringes, with individually adapted mixtures of rapid and intermediate acting insulin, to a regimen involving use of an insulin pen (Insuject, Novo Nordisk, Copenhagen) and standard insulin mixtures. During the study an attempt was made to arrive at an optimal regimen for each child by selecting from among the following available insulin preparations (proportion rapid/intermediate acting in parentheses): Velosulin (100/0), Initard (50/50), Mixtard (30/70), Combitard (15/85), and Insulatard (0/100). The 35 families who completed the one-year study maintained that the Insuject pen made the injection procedure much easier. The pen proved to motivate the children to perform the injection without help. No effort was made to increase the number of daily injections, but seven families changed from two to three daily doses on their own initiative. The HbAlc at zero, three, six, nine and 12 months were as follows (SD in parentheses): 7.5 (1.2); 7.9 (1.5); 7.6 (1.2); 7.8 (1.4); and 7.9 (2.1). We conclude that the Insuject insulin pen is a safe and reliable instrument in childhood diabetes. Good metabolic control can be obtained with commercial insulin mixtures given 2-3 times daily.