Rate of faulty horizontal insulin injections and their impact on glycemic control in a sample of diabetic patients attending diabetic clinic in Karbala Province

Abstract EN

Traditional correct at (90 degree angle) subcutaneous insulin injection is one of the essential aspects to achieve proper diabetic control strategies.

The study aimed to establishpercentage of faulty horizontal insulin injection and its impact on glycemic control in comparison with correctangleinsulin injection.

This prospective study was conducted among patients attending Diabetic clinic in the period between Jan 1st 2009 and Jan 1st 2014.

The total number of patients attending diabetic clinic were 750 patients.

Of this total, 300 patients using insulin injection were enrolled in the study.

The study variables included demographic and treatment data ,gender, age, mode of insulin injection (faulty horizontalinjectionand correctangled insulin injection),glycemic control, attendance to the diabetic clinic frequency, site of injection and local skin complications.

Among the total 110 malepatients, 95 patients(of them used faulty horizontal injection technique, while 15 patients used correct angle injection.

The proper glycemic control in the horizontal andcorrectangledinjectiontechnique were 15 patients, and 10 patients respectively.

Among female patients, 165 patientsapplied faulty horizontal injectiontechnique and only 25 patientsused correctangledinjection.

The proper glycemic control in horizontal and at 90dereeangled injection was 27 patients and 18 patients respectively.

The study discovered highpercentage of faulty horizontal insulin injection technique which was associated with poor glycemic control.

The study also disclosed poor attendance ratio among diabetic patients