Insulin measurement and preparation among diabetic patients at a county hospital

The investigator conducted a pilot study of 52 insulin-using adult diabetic patients at an urban county hospital in the Southeast. The purpose was to assess the ability of adult diabetic patients to measure and prepare insulin in a syringe. Results indicated that patients exhibited important deficits in their ability to prepare and measure insulin in a syringe. In addition, many subjects had difficulty with basic arithmetic involving addition and were unable to calculate their total amount of regular and long-acting (NPH) insulin. Other interesting findings were: 1) 48% did not roll the NPH vial to mix it properly, 2) 71% of the sample population did not eliminate air bubbles from the syringe, and 3) 23% of the sample population contaminated the regular insulin with the NPH insulin. Factors found to be associated with patients' insulin preparation tasks were age, arthritis of the hands, visual acuity, and education.