Time to forget Insulin injections

The fear of needle pricks and subsequently Insulin injections is a big impediment in adequate control of blood Sugar, and worrisome for any Diabetologist. In Delhi alone there would be a large number of Diabetics who direly need Insulin to control their blood sugar levels but simply refuse to do so as they are afraid of taking injections.

But help is on its way for such individuals, once insulin patches have been developed which deliver Insulin inside the body without causing any pain and discomfort. These are small?—?round or square in shape, measuring only few centimetres and few millimetres thickness and can be applied on the skin like an adhesive tape. Insulin patches are attached to the skin and like other patches they have hundreds of small microscopic needles through which Insulin is delivered inside the body.

This is not science fiction, Insulin patches are commercially available in some countries like the US. Diabetes specialist in Delhi and NCR are eagerly awaiting this technology to be made available for the benefit of their patients in Asian countries as well. Insulin patches have a reservoir in which the drug is stored and it gets slowly released at a predetermined rate and through the small microscopic needles it is released in the subcutaneous layer. Currently this is being used to deliver basal Insulin at uniform rates to Type- 1 & Type -2 Diabetic patients.

Advantages of Insulin patches:

1. No needle prick- hence acceptable to eve those who have needle / injection phobia
2. No pain and discomfort during application
3. Uniform release of Insulin
4. Discreet?—?can be easily applied on hidden parts of the body
5. No interference with daily activities like bathing, washing etc.
6. Greater acceptability would lead to better results

These patches usually last for 24 hrs and have to be replaced every day, but they are small and discreet and their application is painless, they stick to the skin with an adhesive, and virtually do not cause any irritation or local adverse reactions.

Patches are also being utilized with patch-pumps, where instead of using a tube and cannula to deliver Insulin inside the body patches are used. Some simple patch pumps are already being marketed commercially whereas there are many under development and an affordable patch pump may soon become a reality.

Diabetologist in Delhi & Indirapuram are not using any of these sophisticated technologies as they are not yet available in our country. But considering the rapid strides in technology- that day may not be very far away when Diabetes specialist in Delhi would be using this painless technique to administer insulin to their patients as well.

Currently the closest that Diabetologist in Delhi have come to in giving relief to Insulin requiring patients is using Insulin Ports- these are small cannulas which are stuck to the skin with a very small tube penetrating the skin, it causes no discomfort or pain at all, the only pain which may be felt is for a fraction of second when the cannula is inserted inside the skin. Whenever an Insulin injection is required the Insulin syringe is placed on the opening of the port and required amount of Insulin is injected into the opening of the port from where it is delivered inside the body through the tube, thus multiple pricks can be avoided using an insulin port. One such port may be good for upto three days.

Diabetes is a chronic lifestyle disease, there’s no denying that it is a time bomb waiting to explode, the number of Diabetics is only going to increase in our country. Unfortunately majority of our population suffering from Diabetes is not adequately controlled, according to some studies less than 30% of Type 2 Diabetics are adequately controlled, and controlling Type 1 Diabetes with conventional injection therapy is even more difficult.

Diabetes specialist in Delhi and all over our country would also be delighted to see our Indian researchers and scientists coming up with new technologies and products which could make the lives of our Diabetes patients, safer and easier.

Dr Rajesh Kesari MD, is a consultant Diabetologist in Delhi and Director of Total Care Control - Diabetes Care Centre;