Pen needle preference in a population of Canadians with diabetes: results from a recent patient survey

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of insulin injections in patients using 8 mm 31 gauge vs. 5 mm 31 gauge pen needles, as determined by A1C results and to measure individual patient satisfaction and compare overall satisfaction regarding the use of the 2 needles.

The study was completed as a substudy of a single-site, open-label, randomized, 6-month comparative study consisting of 66 obese patients. Prior to the study, all individuals had treated their diabetes with either long-acting insulin glargine or insulin detemir. At the onset of the study, patients were randomized 1:1 to either insulin glargine or neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin. All patients used an 8 mm pen needle for the first 3 months and a 5 mm pen needle for the remaining 3 months. At the conclusion of the trial, patients completed a questionnaire regarding pen needle satisfaction.

The 5 mm needle was preferred by 41.8% of study subjects, while the 8 mm needle was preferred by 27.9% of subjects. For other attributes (i.e. overall injection comfort, pain when inserting the needle into the skin and length of needle), the 5 mm needle scored higher than the 8 mm needle and higher also than the percentage of individuals who indicated no preference.

In patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes with a mean single-injection volume dose of basal insulin of 50.2 units, the 5 mm needle was generally preferred over the 8 mm needle. The shorter needle was more comfortable and easier to use while being equally effective in delivering insulin.