Half With Diabetes Skip Insulin Injections

Jan. 26, 2010 -- More than half of the people prescribed insulin injections
to control their diabetes have skipped their injections in the past, and one in
five do so sometimes or often, according to a new study.
But the reasons behind skipped insulin injections may vary according to the
type of diabetes.
Researchers say more than 25% of people with diabetes take insulin. All
people with type 1 diabetes and some people with type 2 diabetes require
insulin injections to manage their disease and to prevent and slow the
progression of potentially dangerous complications.
The study showed that people with type 1 diabetes who didn't follow their
recommended diet were most likely to skip their insulin injections. Among those
with type 2 diabetes, younger people, those with a lower income, and those who
perceived their insulin injections as painful or embarrassing were more likely
to skip them.
"Intentionally skipping insulin injections may be more common than
clinicians think," researcher Mark Peyrot, PhD, of the department of sociology
at Loyola University Maryland, says in a news release. "It's important for
physicians and other health-care professionals to be aware of potential risk
factors, especially for patients who report injection-related problems."



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