DENVER, CO - October 13, 2006 -A
new study demonstrated the importance of reducing pain to minimize needle
anxiety when introducing daily injections to children with diabetes.
Using a simple injection port was shown to reduce pain and increase therapy
compliance. The
study, designed to investigate the reasons for poor glycemic control
in children with type 1 diabetes, was conducted by the renowned Barbara
Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes.
Two key findings emerged from this
study. First, a link between
needle anxiety and the pain associated with the daily injections was
identified as one of the main reasons for the poor control of childhood
diabetes. Second, use of the Insuflon injection port reduced the
needle pain associated with injections and increased therapy compliance
in children with diabetes.
“Nearly 70 percent of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes
are poorly controlled, said Peter Chase, MD, Professor of Pediatrics
and Clinical Director Ameritus of the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood
Diabetes . “The observation that needle fear, present in up to
25 percent of all people, can result in omission of insulin injections
is very important in understanding childhood diabetes. Finding a simple
solution to the problem can have a significant impact.”
In this study, patients were divided into three different groups: a
control group (insulin, NovoPen insulin delivery device and FreeStyle
glucose meter), an alarm group (control group plus an alarmable Flash FreeStyle
meter) and the Insuflon group (control group plus the Insuflon.) At three
months the Insuflon group showed improved glycemic control andat six
months the Insuflon group had obtained even better glycemic control.
The alarm group demonstrated a small improvement inglycemic control at
three months, with no differences at six months. The control group did
not show any improvements. In addition, the Insuflon group reported a
decrease in pain associated with injections at three and six months.
“The study demonstrated that by using a simple device as the Insuflon
injection port, the children accepted the daily injections. As a result,
compliance increased and glycemic control was improved,” remarked
Dr. Chase. “And whereas the Insuflon port may not be the right
option for everyone, the study demonstrates that it is clearly a viable
alternative for people to lessen needle anxiety and for health care practitioners
to set off a successful course of treatment.”
About the Study
The study, which was conducted by the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood
Diabetes, included 66 children aged 5 to 17years. All patients
had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for more than 1 year (mean
duration 7.3 years) and all were poorly controlled. The patients
were randomized equally by gender into one of three groups: control
group, alarm group and Insuflon group. The haemoglobin A1c levels
in the blood were measured at baseline and then at three and six months
as an indicator of the level of control achieved. At the same
points, the participants were asked to rate the severity of pain of
the shots on a scale from 0-10.
About Insuflon
The Insuflon injection port is a soft catheter usually inserted in the
abdomen or buttocks. After removing the insertion needle, the port
stays in the body and the insulin can be easily injected thereby reducing
the number of pricks significantly. Compared to traditional insulin
injections, use of the Insuflon port is even considered rational pharmacotherapy
as it increases compliance at the lowest possible expenses.
Facts About Childhood Diabetes
- Each year 13,000 children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the United States (US).
- It is estimated that there are more than one million Americans with type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes
- In the United States and worldwide, the number of cases of type 1 diabetes is increasing by 3 percent each year.
- Type 1 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder caused by the lack of insulin resulting in the need for daily insulin injections
- Today, more and more people with poorly controlled diabetes develop complications. The Insuflon helps to improve control and reducei HbA1c;thereby reducing the risk of diabetic complications.
About Unomedical
Unomedical a/s is a leading Medical Device manufacturer
in Europe specialized in the development, manufacture and marketing of
sterile medical single-use devices. With more than 4,000 employees worldwide,
Unomedical has production facilities and sales offices in: Denmark, Norway,
Finland, UK, Italy, Belarus, Slovakia, Russia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia,
Mexico and the United States of America. Unomedical a/s is owned by Nordic
Capital. Further information is available at www.unomedical.com and www.infusion-set.com.