Investigation of appropriate needle length considering skin thickness with the real injection posture for insulin injections in diabetic patients

BACKGROUND: Insulin treatment is widely used not only for type 1 but also for type 2 diabetes patients. Insulin must be injected into the subcutaneous tissue to be effective. The needle length has been shortened for safety and efficiency. However, whether patients use an appropriate needle length is unclear. METHODS: Skin thickness was measured by ultrasound with patients in their usual posture during injection. Furthermore, the effect of the intervention in which the needle length was changed was investigated. RESULTS: Thirty-eight percent of the patients had fluid leakage and injected the needle intradermally. The average skin thickness was 3.3 mm while sitting, which was greater than that in a previous report including measurements taken while lying down. Consequently, the skin thickness was > 4 mm in 9.5% of the patients who used 4-mm needles. Cases of leakage and intradermal injection decreased when the needle length was changed. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified that the needle length should be considered in patients with thick skin or a lower body mass index due to possibility of intradermal injection.