An indwelling subcutaneous FEP cannula for intermittent insulin injection: patient experience and effect on diabetic control.

The acceptability and efficacy of injecting insulin through a subcutaneous FEP cannula (to reduce the frequency of needle pricks) compared with conventional multiple injection therapy was examined in a cross-over study. Thirty-two insulin-dependent diabetic patients injected through the cannula for 10 weeks using a pen injector, followed by 10 weeks using the injector alone, or vice versa. Rapid-acting insulin was given before meals and intermediate-acting insulin at bedtime. Blood glucose control was not affected by cannula use (glycosylated haemoglobin: cannula, 8.6 +/- 0.3%; no cannula, 8.6 +/- 0.3%). Twenty-two of the 30 patients completing the study preferred to use the cannula and 21 requested to continue using it. There were no complications associated with its use.