Naslov
Applying Insulin – The Need For Continuing Patient Education.

Autori
Kolarić, Vilma ; Kovač, Biserka ; Ajduković, Dea ; Šekerija, Mario

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
FEND - 14th Annual Conference / - Beč, 2009, 37-37

Skup
FEND - Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes. 14th Annual Conference.

Mjesto i datum
Beč, Austrija, 25.09.2009. - 26.09.2009

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
insulin; education; lipodystrophy

Sažetak
Background: Although coaching patients on the optimal way of injecting insulin is an integral part of patient education, clinical observations suggest that a significant number of patients do not change the site of insulin injection. This puts them at an increased risk of lipodystrophy, a dermatological complication of insulin use, which can impair insulin absorption through the affected tissues. Method: The sample included 120 patients (mean age=66.3, SD=10.19 ; 55% female), irrespective of diabetes type (90% type 2 diabetes) and duration of insulin treatment (C=5, interquartile range = 8.6). Nurses collected data in a structured interview. Patients were asked about their diabetes-related and general health, about their insulin therapy, and the way they apply insulin. Result: Average HbA1c of patients was 7.4% (SD=1.32%). 27% patients had BMI lesser than 25 kg/m2, while 26% had BMI>30 kg/m2. 82% regularly monitor blood glucose. The majority of patients (69%) are on two doses of insulin per day ; 65% of patients are on pre-mixed insulin analogues. The vast majority (93%) apply insulin only to one part of the body, mostly the abdomen (72%). Less than half (41%) change the area of applying insulin regularly, and a quarter (23%) inject at an angle other than 90 degrees. More than one fifth of patients (23%) report skin or tissue changes in the areas where they usually inject. Conclusion: The data demonstrate that a relatively small proportion of patients apply insulin in an optimal way (both the right degree of injecting and changing sites), while a relatively large number of patients experience adverse effects of not changing the sites of injection. However, these data were collected through patient self-reports, rather than assessment of medical staff, which is a limitation of this study. A need for on-going re-education of patients on the appropriate ways of applying insulin is indicated.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA