Diabetes Care, Vol 19, Issue 12 1434-1436, Copyright © 1996 by American Diabetes Association

ARTICLES

Subcutaneous or intramuscular injections of insulin in children. Are we injecting where we think we are?

M Polak, M Beregszaszi, N Belarbi, K Benali, M Hassan, P Czernichow and N Tubiana-Rufi
Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Robert Debre University Hospital, Paris, France.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess the insulin injection location in a group of children who had their injection according to their daily practice, thought to lead to subcutaneous injections. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The location of the insulin deposit at the injection site was visualized using an ultrasound device. RESULTS: The exact insulin injection location could be localized, and 18 of 59 injections (30.5%) (one injection for each child) were in the intramuscular tissue. Of the children who had intramuscular injection, 15 of 18 were boys. The children who had an intramuscular injection had a significantly lower percentile of BMI (mean +/- SE: 47 +/- 8 vs. 72 +/- 4, P = 0.004), lower distance from skin surface to muscle fascia without a skinfold (5.6 +/- 0.6 vs. 11 +/- 0.7 mm, P < 0.0001), and a lower distance from skin surface to muscle fascia with a skinfold (8.1 +/- 0.9 vs. 15.9 +/- 0.8 mm, P < 0.0001) than children who had a subcutaneous insulin injection. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a group of children at risk for intramuscular insulin injections and that may deserve specific injection technique and advice.
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				M G Gnanalingham, P Newland, and C P Smith Accuracy and reproducibility of low dose insulin administration using pen-injectors and syringes Arch. Dis. Child., July 1, 1998; 79(1): 59 - 62. [Abstract] [Full Text]