Multiple Insulin Injections in Adolescent Diabetics Using a Pen‐Type Syringe

Multiple insulin injections using the NovoPen, a new device for insulin administration, were given for 12 weeks to seven adolescent patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (ages: 13–18 years; duration of diabetes: 4–14 years). Human Actrapid insulin was injected before every meal using the NovoPen, and human Monotard insulin was injected at bed-time with a conventional syringe. The mean total daily insulin doses at the beginning and end of the study were 1.3 and 1.2 U/kg body weight, respectively. Monotard insulin was increased during the study. Blood HbAl values declined from 16% to 13% in two patients. The incidence of hypoglycemia did not increase and severe hypoglycemia did not develop. No patient reported difficulty in using the NovoPen. Some, however, had problems in administering insulin at school, but they preferred to continue using the device. The results show that, for adolescent patients,.the NovoPen offers advantages in management and may improve diabetic control.