The role of comfort and discomfort in insulin therapy

Despite the recognized importance of optimal insulin therapy, patient adherence to insulin therapy is an ongoing clinical care challenge. Insulin omission continues to be frequent and underestimated and has been correlated with poorer glycemic control and increased rates of diabetes-related complications. Insulin users consistently identify multiple factors that contribute to insulin injection-related anxiety and to non-adherence. Injection-related discomfort continues to bear a significant contribution. Over the last decade, with advances in needle manufacturing technology, shorter and narrower needles have been associated with progressively improving patient self-rating of injection discomfort. Consequently, patient surveys of insulin users show discomfort to rank in the bottom third of significant contributors by prevalence. However, healthcare providers (HCP) and family member care providers continue to demonstrate a high level of anticipated and perceived pain for the patient. HCP anxiety and pain anticipation are each associated with patient anxiety and may therefore play a significant contributing role in patient non-adherence.