World Diabetes Day was observed at PGIMER, Chandigarh in association with Becton Dickinson India (BD India) with a call to combat Psychological Insulin Resistance (PIR) or resistance to initiating insulin therapy which affects children and adults living with diabetes, alike.
On this occasion, doctors from PGI along with international experts provided tips on overcoming needle phobia in children who are on insulin injections.
Dr Anil Bhansali, Head, Department of Endocrinology, PGIMER, said, “Needle length is important to alleviate the fear of injections, shorter the needle, lesser is the psychological barrier to injecting oneself. Shorter needles provide safety from injecting into muscle, as an insulin injection in the muscle may lead to hypoglycemia. Appropriate injection technique is the main stay of insulin therapy for diabetes management,” he said. He, however, regretted that this is not often practiced in our country.
According to experts, the success of insulin injection therapy and the adherence to it depends on several factors such as a smooth insulin initiation process with counselling that alleviates the fear of needles, the insulin regime, length of needle and the method of administration, For example, it is always preferable to keep injectable therapy at room temperature, use a new needle for each injection, choose shorter needles with a smaller diameter, and inspect and palpitate the skin prior to each injection to ensure a comfortable injection experience.
Dr lawrence Hirsch, Worldwide Vice President-Medical Affairs, Diabetes Care at BD, said, “New technology is helping diabetes patients around the world live healthy lives through innovative products and educational services that bring improved efficacy, comfort and convenience to diabetes injection therapy.”
A workshop with children living with Type 1 diabetes was conducted where a live demonstration of correct injection techniques to patients and families was given.
Dr Sanjay Kumar Bhadada, Additional Professor Department of Endocrinology, PGIMER said, “Type-1 Diabetes also known as Juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes affects about 4% of people living with diabetes. Insulin remains the mainstay of treatment for such people. Most of us suffer from needle phobia, more so children. Appropriate counseling, correct insulin injection technique, healthy changes in lifestyle and positive attitude can make management of ones diabetes simpler.”