Improving insulin self-injection accuracy in patients with diabetes mellitus through a nursing project

Adv Clin Exp Med. 2023 Sep 25. doi: 10.17219/acem/170224. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Background: Non-standardized insulin injection has an impact on the efficacy of glucose control.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the effectiveness of a nursing project in improving the insulin self-injection accuracy of diabetes mellitus patients.

Material and methods: A total of 200 type 2 diabetes patients who received insulin therapy with an insulin pen were recruited at the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (Chongqing, China). Patients were randomly assigned to a control (n = 100) or intervention (n = 100) group. Conventional health education was conducted in the control group, while a nursing project and conventional health education were undertaken in the intervention group. The following parameters were analyzed between the 2 groups: standardized insulin pen use at admission and discharge, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), time in range (TIR), and adipose hyperplasia incidence rate 6 months after discharge.

Results: Concerning standardized insulin self-injection, the intervention group was superior to the control group, and the difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The HbA1c levels (p = 0.000), TIR (p = 0.005) and adipose hyperplasia incidence rate 6 months after discharge (p = 0.000) all improved in the intervention group compared to the control group.

Conclusions: The application of the nursing project effectively improved the efficacy of glucose control in diabetes mellitus patients.

Keywords: blood glucose management; diabetes mellitus; insulin injection; nursing project.