PRE-FILLED INSULIN PEN IN NEWLY INSULIN-TREATED DIABETIC-PATIENTS OVER 60 YEARS OLD

Efficacy, safety and patient compliance of the use of a prefilled insu lin pen disposable device were assessed in 21 over 60-year-old newly i nsulin treated diabetic patients, Patients, after a 2-week instruction period, were randomly assigned to an 8-week treatment period with con ventional syringe or pre-filled insulin pen and, then, crossed over af ter a second instruction period, In our patients, HbA(1c) (%) was sign ificantly lower using pen treatment than using conventional syringe (7 .3+/-1.2 vs 7.8+/-1.2; p<0.02), Home and day hospital blood glucose pr ofile, as well as insulin requirements (0.38+/-0.15 and 0.37+/-0.16 U/ kg/day; p=NS) were similar during pen and syringe treatment, respectiv ely, No difference was observed in hypoglycaemic events during pen or syringe treatment, and all patients claimed to prefer the pen to conve ntional syringes for their insulin administration, Our results showed that, in elderly newly insulin treated diabetic patients, insulin admi nistration using prefilled insulin pen device was more efficacious, mo re acceptable and as safe as conventional syringe. (C) 1997, Editrice Kurtis.