TWO in five insulin injection users have never been shown the correct needle size or the need to rotate the injection site, according to new data published from a survey conducted by the RACGP's Diabetes Specific Interest Network, reported in 6minutes.
Diabetes educators, frequently sourced through pharmacies, were shown to have had the most impact interms of education of patients, having demonstrated injection technique to 48% of the participants.
GPs had demonstrated the techniques to 42% of patients.
More than two thirds of patients said they had not had their injection techniques checked in the past 18 months.
The survey revealed only 44% of respondents, most of whom use pen needles, used the recommended 4mm and 5mm needles, while 49% reused pen needles and 58% failed to leave the pen needle in for the correct amount of time.
For patients under 50 years of age, the situation is even more dire with approximately eight in 10 failing to correctly change the injection site.
Diabetes Specific Interest Network Chair Dr Gary Deed said, "It's also concerning to see how many respondents were using longer needles (6mm, 8mm or 12.7mm), as they are more likely to inject into the muscle layer, which can be uncomfortable as well as affecting medication absorption".
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 16 Nov 18
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