Don’t Be So Quick to Stop a Treatment That’s Working

Aug 17, 2021
8,267 views

How to address insulin injection site irritation

Man, 52 years of age, type 2 diabetes, obesity class II on Victoza. He was very pleased with treatment response, lowering glucose levels, feeling full and more satisfied, but having a skin reaction.

The patient started at 0.6mg subcutaneous daily, injected into the abdomen. Then, it slowly increased to 1.8mg daily. Once on 1.8mg, local irritation (erythema, induration, and pruritis) after each injection.

I asked the patient if he was rotating sites. He was not. Instructed to decrease dose to 0.6mg, and start rotating sites, including avoidance of affected site—no further site problems. The affected site healed. He then slowly increased again to 1.8mg, without any difficulties.

Lessons Learned:

If/when local irritation occurs from injections assess for causes such as:
Dose-dependent changes. If you think the reason is raising the dose, instruct to use a lower dose per injection. Sometimes that means more than one injection.
Rotation or nonrotation of sites. If not rotating, teach rotation of sites. Always make this a basic of your teaching.
An actual sensitivity to the treatment. Try another brand.
The essential technique of patient administering the medication (return demonstration). Teach accordingly.

Anonymous

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