[Treatment of diabetes and quality of life. On possibilities of a more normalized life style using an insulin pen for multi-injection therapy].

Forty-eight insulindependent diabetics were interviewed by a psychologist about their experiences when changing from conventional diabetes regimen to multi-injection therapy using NovoPen (a pen-like insulin injection system), and the greatest benefit was increased freedom.

Abstract

Forty-eight insulindependent diabetics were interviewed by a psychologist about their experiences when changing from conventional diabetes regimen to multi-injection therapy using NovoPen (a pen-like insulin injection system). They had then used the new therapy for 1 1/2 years. Most of them had made only small changes in their eating habits, but they strongly appreciated the new possibility for flexibility in eating patterns. The most mentioned advantages were: The new therapy was practical and easy to use, gave more freedom, made social life easier and improved blood glucose control. Many, mainly women, experienced less feelings of guilt, and women also placed the social advantages highest on the list of advantages. The youngest persons thought the greatest benefit was increased freedom, and persons in middle age the possibilities for improved metabolic control. Multi-injection insulin therapy is an important advancement, and is probably not acceptable to most diabetics without a practical and reliable insulin pen.