Patient perspectives on the use of half-unit insulin pens by people with type 1 diabetes: a cross-sectional observational study

Abstract

Background: Half-unit pens offer the ability to dose insulin more precisely. Information about half-unit pen use and evidence of their benefits and drawbacks is limited. This study aims to characterize people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who have used (current/former = EVER) vs. those who have never used halfunit pens (NEVER users) and to understand their perspective. Methods: An observational cross-sectional online survey was administered through T1D Exchange's online patient community, myGlu.org, to understand the use of half-unit insulin pens. Results: The 278 adult participants (156 EVER, 122 NEVER) had mean age of 41.8±12.7 years, body mass index of 26.0±3.8 kg/m 2 , glycated hemoglobin of 6.3%±1.0%, and 55% were male. EVER users had T1D for shorter duration than NEVER users (p<0.001). EVER users were less likely to use continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (p<0.001) and more likely to start correcting high blood glucose at a lower level (p<0.001) and low blood glucose at a higher level (p<0.001). The highest ranked benefits of halfunit pen reported by its current users (N=131) included prevention of hyperglycemia (40.5%), less anxiety or worry (23.7%), and prevention of hypoglycemia (16.8%). Conclusions: Half-unit insulin pen is perceived as an insulin device that may help people with T1D to avoid hypo-and hyperglycemic events and decrease their level of disease worry and anxiety. This study highlights the need for patients and health care providers to understand the benefits of half-unit pens while considering options for individualized diabetes management.

Which people with diabetes are treated with a disposable, half‐unit insulin pen? A real‐world, retrospective, database study in Spain

“…32 Represas Carrera A recent study demonstrated the benefits of half-unit pens in preventing hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events as well as the user's perception and showed a decrease in worry and anxiety. 31 The use of disposable pens has increased over time. 36 Insulin pens have been associated with increased adherence and persistence, which are in turn associated with lower HbA1c values and fewer hypoglycemic events than those with other administered forms of insulin.…”

“…A third of the identified Jr KwikPen users with T1D were children and adolescents. Jr KwikPen users were younger than the T1D population included in the study by Piras de Oliveira et al 31 and the T2D population in Spain 32–34 . Piras de Oliveira et al conducted a survey of adults with T1D and caregivers of minors with T1D in the United States to understand the user and their perspectives on half‐unit pens 31 .…”

“…A recent study demonstrated the benefits of half‐unit pens in preventing hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events as well as the user's perception and showed a decrease in worry and anxiety 31 . The use of disposable pens has increased over time 36 .…”

“…32 , 33 , 34 Piras de Oliveira et al conducted a survey of adults with T1D and caregivers of minors with T1D in the United States to understand the user and their perspectives on half‐unit pens. 31 Jr KwikPen was most commonly prescribed by paediatricians for paediatric patients (87.9% for patients with T1D <18 years old) and by endocrinologists for adult patients (82.5% for patients with T1D 18–64 years old, 64.0% for patients with T1D ≥65 years old, and 67.8% for patients with T2D; Table 2 ).…”