Comparing Lifestyle Convenience of Multiple Daily Injection and Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion

Abstract

Aim: This study investigated the lifestyle convenience of Insulin therapy for adult women patients with type 1 diabetes. Methods: Participants were type 1 diabetes adult women patients who switched from multiple daily injection (MDI) therapy to Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (CSII) therapy. We conducted semi-structured interviews with participants. To analyze, we referenced the classification table of Hamada's study comparing the usefulness of both the NovoPen® and CSII. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the research subjects. The questions focused mainly on diabetes management, instrument operation, everyday life, and social, psychological and lifestyle convenience aspects during MDI and CSII. Results: Research subjects were 4 women patients with type 1 diabetes. The average age was 35.3 ± 6.24 (SE) years old. Participants were undergoing MDI therapy; however, in the middle, they switched to CSII therapy. CSII therapy is convenient in terms of diabetes management, social and psychological. MDI therapy is convenient in terms of instrument operation and daily life. Compared to MDI therapy, CSII therapy is less convenient in terms of instrument operation and everyday life. However, since CSII therapy has more stable HbA1c and blood glucose levels compared to MDI therapy, it is more convenient in terms of social and psychological aspects and reduces those burdens. About economy CSII therapy, patients paid about 5000 yen more per month compared to MDI therapy. Conclusion: It is believed that patients prioritize therapeutic effects, and choose CSII, which is stable in psychological and social aspects, even though it is inconvenient with life.

The Study of Experiences during Pregnancy in a Woman with Type 1 Diabetes

“…Her narrative suggested that she needed to think about how to avoid any obstacles that she would face as a result of using the insulin pump. A study on the usefulness of an insulin pump in everyday life [3] found that the presence of the insulin pump and limitations in movement when the pump is worn can cause users to feel inconvenience in everyday life. Given this, it can be said that pregnant women who are using an insulin pump may feel the presence of the pump and limitations in movement more strongly compared to those who are not pregnant.…”

“…Patients with type 1 diabetes need to "live with the disease" through their life course. Living with type 1 diabetes means accepting the disease, incorporating insulin therapy in life, and restructuring life in accordance with treatment [3].…”

“…Syringe needles used for insulin injection are thinner than other medical syringe needles. The tip of syringe needles for insulin injection has a special design that reduces pain in the patient; its structure reduces resistance generated when insulin is injected[3]. However, pregnant women who inject themselves with insulin tend to develop gestational itch, gestational eczema, and pigmentation in the early stage of pregnancy during which estrogen levels increase.Moreover, the skin of pregnant women is sensitive to stimulation.…”