ADEA Clinical Recommendations - Subcutaneous Injection Technique

Wed 31 Aug 2011

ADEA Clinical Recommendations:
 Subcutaneous Injection Technique for Insulin and Glucagon-like Peptide 1

 

Further to the recent release of international clinical guidelines on the delivery of insulin to people with diabetes, the ADEA has conducted an additional literature review and has developed subsequent injection technique recommendations for optimum control of diabetes.

 

Launched today at the Australia Diabetes Society and Australian Diabetes Education Association Annual Scientific Meeting, in Perth, the recommendations are designed to provide health care professionals involved in the management of those with insulin requiring diabetes with the knowledge to respond to the changing mechanisms for insulin delivery.

 

Speaking at the Meeting, Dr Hirsch, Worldwide Vice President of Medical Affairs, BD Diabetes Care, New Jersey, USA said, “Correct injection technique is paramount for optimal control of diabetes. These recommendations aim to ease the fear associated with injections while ultimately improving the ease, comfort and accuracy of insulin delivery.” 

 

The ADEA recommendations for subcutaneous injection technique include the following:

  • People with diabetes, their relevant family members, carers and health care providers receive quality education and instruction of correct injection technique from diabetes educators.
  • Diabetes educators document the process of how they educated people with diabetes and those involved in their care about self-injecting.
  • Children / adolescents and thin adults use shorter needle lengths (i.e. 4mm, 5mm, 6mm), usually requiring a skin fold lift and possibly a 45 degree insertion angle of the needle.
  • Overweight or obese people need not use a needle more than 8mm in length and can use shorter needles if preferred.
  • Diabetes educators review injection technique and sites of injections as part of routine assessment as these issues can affect how injectable medicines are absorbed and subsequent blood glucose levels. 

 

ADEA Clinical Practice Committee Chair, Michelle Robins said, “Diabetes educators can play a key role in alleviating many of the concerns people with diabetes and their family members may have when it comes to injections, by familiarising themselves with the new guidelines and teaching their clients, carers and health professionals how to inject diabetes medicines correctly.”

 

Click here to download a copy of the recommendations.