Pens versus syringes to deliver insulin among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a prevalent disease among elderly population. As the disease progresses, insulin may become necessary. The use of pens application seems to be more practical. However, the influence of this method on glycemic control needs to be defined in elderly people...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rafael Vaz Machry, Gustavo Fonseca Cipriani, Henrique Umpierre Pedroso, Rafaela Ramos Nunes, Thayme Luisa Souza Pires, Raquel Ferreira, Betina Vescovi, Gabriela Pereira de Moura, Ticiana Costa Rodrigues
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-06-01
Series:Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-021-00675-y
_version_ 1829477921791672320
author Rafael Vaz Machry
Gustavo Fonseca Cipriani
Henrique Umpierre Pedroso
Rafaela Ramos Nunes
Thayme Luisa Souza Pires
Raquel Ferreira
Betina Vescovi
Gabriela Pereira de Moura
Ticiana Costa Rodrigues
author_facet Rafael Vaz Machry
Gustavo Fonseca Cipriani
Henrique Umpierre Pedroso
Rafaela Ramos Nunes
Thayme Luisa Souza Pires
Raquel Ferreira
Betina Vescovi
Gabriela Pereira de Moura
Ticiana Costa Rodrigues
author_sort Rafael Vaz Machry
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a prevalent disease among elderly population. As the disease progresses, insulin may become necessary. The use of pens application seems to be more practical. However, the influence of this method on glycemic control needs to be defined in elderly people. Methods Randomized clinical trial comparing pens and syringes for insulin application among patients with type 2 DM over 60 years old and Glycated Hemoglobin > 8.5% at baseline. The follow-up was 24 weeks, with monthly medical visits to adjust the treatment. All patients received insulin NPH and, if necessary, insulin Regular. We assessed glycemic control, adherence to treatment, hypoglycemia occurrence, need for adjustment in treatment and impact on quality of life, Results We included 121 patients with mean age of 65.75 years. Sixty-one were randomized for pen group (PG) and 60 patients for syringe group (SG). At baseline, mean HbA1c was 10.34 ± 1.66% and 9.90 ± 1.25% (p = 0.103) in PG and SG respectively. Mean HbA1c was 8.39 ± 1.28% in PG and 8.85 ± 1.74% in SG (p = 0.101) at 24 weeks. However, there was a more significant reduction in PG (− 1.94 ± 1.93% in PG and − 1.04 ± 1.46% in SG, p < 0.05) during follow-up. We found no difference in treatment adherence rates, hypoglycemia, greater need for insulin doses or oral medication, and progression to basal-bolus insulin scheme. We also found no difference in the impact of the disease on quality of life between groups. Conclusion Although we did not find any difference in the impact on quality of life, frequency of hypoglycemia or adherence, the PG showed a reduction in HbA1c higher in 24 weeks of follow-up. Clinical trial registration: NCT02517242
first_indexed 2024-12-14T17:04:54Z
format Article
id doaj.art-529fefb992bd42f9ac82a6f1fbbda7fe
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1758-5996
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-14T17:04:54Z
publishDate 2021-06-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome
spelling doaj.art-529fefb992bd42f9ac82a6f1fbbda7fe2022-12-21T22:53:44ZengBMCDiabetology & Metabolic Syndrome1758-59962021-06-011311910.1186/s13098-021-00675-yPens versus syringes to deliver insulin among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled clinical trialRafael Vaz Machry0Gustavo Fonseca Cipriani1Henrique Umpierre Pedroso2Rafaela Ramos Nunes3Thayme Luisa Souza Pires4Raquel Ferreira5Betina Vescovi6Gabriela Pereira de Moura7Ticiana Costa Rodrigues8Post Graduate Program in Medical Sciences–Endocrinology, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS)Post Graduate Program in Medical Sciences–Endocrinology, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS)Medical School, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulMedical School, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulMedical School, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulMedical School, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulMedical School, Universidade Federal de Santa MariaMedical School, Universidade Federal de Santa MariaPost Graduate Program in Medical Sciences–Endocrinology, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS)Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a prevalent disease among elderly population. As the disease progresses, insulin may become necessary. The use of pens application seems to be more practical. However, the influence of this method on glycemic control needs to be defined in elderly people. Methods Randomized clinical trial comparing pens and syringes for insulin application among patients with type 2 DM over 60 years old and Glycated Hemoglobin > 8.5% at baseline. The follow-up was 24 weeks, with monthly medical visits to adjust the treatment. All patients received insulin NPH and, if necessary, insulin Regular. We assessed glycemic control, adherence to treatment, hypoglycemia occurrence, need for adjustment in treatment and impact on quality of life, Results We included 121 patients with mean age of 65.75 years. Sixty-one were randomized for pen group (PG) and 60 patients for syringe group (SG). At baseline, mean HbA1c was 10.34 ± 1.66% and 9.90 ± 1.25% (p = 0.103) in PG and SG respectively. Mean HbA1c was 8.39 ± 1.28% in PG and 8.85 ± 1.74% in SG (p = 0.101) at 24 weeks. However, there was a more significant reduction in PG (− 1.94 ± 1.93% in PG and − 1.04 ± 1.46% in SG, p < 0.05) during follow-up. We found no difference in treatment adherence rates, hypoglycemia, greater need for insulin doses or oral medication, and progression to basal-bolus insulin scheme. We also found no difference in the impact of the disease on quality of life between groups. Conclusion Although we did not find any difference in the impact on quality of life, frequency of hypoglycemia or adherence, the PG showed a reduction in HbA1c higher in 24 weeks of follow-up. Clinical trial registration: NCT02517242https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-021-00675-yType 2 DiabetesElderlyPen devicesInsulinAdherenceGlycemic control
spellingShingle Rafael Vaz Machry
Gustavo Fonseca Cipriani
Henrique Umpierre Pedroso
Rafaela Ramos Nunes
Thayme Luisa Souza Pires
Raquel Ferreira
Betina Vescovi
Gabriela Pereira de Moura
Ticiana Costa Rodrigues
Pens versus syringes to deliver insulin among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome
Type 2 Diabetes
Elderly
Pen devices
Insulin
Adherence
Glycemic control
title Pens versus syringes to deliver insulin among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled clinical trial
title_full Pens versus syringes to deliver insulin among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled clinical trial
title_fullStr Pens versus syringes to deliver insulin among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled clinical trial
title_full_unstemmed Pens versus syringes to deliver insulin among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled clinical trial
title_short Pens versus syringes to deliver insulin among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled clinical trial
title_sort pens versus syringes to deliver insulin among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes a randomized controlled clinical trial
topic Type 2 Diabetes
Elderly
Pen devices
Insulin
Adherence
Glycemic control
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-021-00675-y
work_keys_str_mv AT rafaelvazmachry pensversussyringestodeliverinsulinamongelderlypatientswithtype2diabetesarandomizedcontrolledclinicaltrial
AT gustavofonsecacipriani pensversussyringestodeliverinsulinamongelderlypatientswithtype2diabetesarandomizedcontrolledclinicaltrial
AT henriqueumpierrepedroso pensversussyringestodeliverinsulinamongelderlypatientswithtype2diabetesarandomizedcontrolledclinicaltrial
AT rafaelaramosnunes pensversussyringestodeliverinsulinamongelderlypatientswithtype2diabetesarandomizedcontrolledclinicaltrial
AT thaymeluisasouzapires pensversussyringestodeliverinsulinamongelderlypatientswithtype2diabetesarandomizedcontrolledclinicaltrial
AT raquelferreira pensversussyringestodeliverinsulinamongelderlypatientswithtype2diabetesarandomizedcontrolledclinicaltrial
AT betinavescovi pensversussyringestodeliverinsulinamongelderlypatientswithtype2diabetesarandomizedcontrolledclinicaltrial
AT gabrielapereirademoura pensversussyringestodeliverinsulinamongelderlypatientswithtype2diabetesarandomizedcontrolledclinicaltrial
AT ticianacostarodrigues pensversussyringestodeliverinsulinamongelderlypatientswithtype2diabetesarandomizedcontrolledclinicaltrial