Intramuscular risk at insulin injection sites--measurement of the distance from skin to muscle and rationale for shorter-length needles for subcutaneous insulin therapy

Diabetes Technol Ther. 2014 Dec;16(12):867-73. doi: 10.1089/dia.2014.0111. Epub 2014 Oct 20.

Abstract

Background: Intramuscular (IM) injection can increase insulin absorption, causing hypoglycemia. Available needle lengths today are 4-12.7 mm for pens and 6-12.7 mm for syringes. We describe the distance (D) from skin surface to muscle fascia at injection sites for subcutaneous (SC) insulin therapy and recommend needle lengths to reduce IM injection risk.

Materials and methods: At two locations in the United States, skin and SC fat thicknesses were measured by ultrasound at the abdomen, arm, thigh, and buttock in diverse adults (body mass index [BMI] range, approximately 19-65 kg/m²) with diabetes (n=341 with one or more paired skin and SC measurement, permitting calculation of D). The natural log of D by body site, BMI, and gender were analyzed using a mixed model to estimate IM risk.

Results: D varied significantly by body site, BMI, and gender (each P<0.001), increasing with higher BMI and in women. Median D ranged from 10.9 mm (95% confidence interval, 10.3, 11.6) at the thigh to 16.9 mm (15.9, 18.1) at the buttock. Minimum D was <3 mm at the thigh and <5 mm elsewhere. When inserted 90° without pinch-up, the most commonly used needle worldwide (8 mm) has estimated IM risks of 25% and 9.7%, respectively, in the thigh and abdomen, versus 1.6% and 0.1%, respectively, with a 4 mm needle. A 45° insertion reduces, but does not eliminate, IM risk with longer needles.

Conclusions: Gender, BMI, and body site affect D; when combined with needle length and insertion angle, these factors permit detailed estimates of IM insulin injection risk. Such risk varies across sites, appears greatest at the thigh, is unnecessarily increased with 8 mm and 12.7 mm needles, and is greatly reduced with shorter-length needles and good injection technique.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adiposity
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Body Mass Index
  • Diabetes Complications / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Diabetes Complications / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Complications / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Iatrogenic Disease / epidemiology
  • Iatrogenic Disease / prevention & control
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Insulin / administration & dosage
  • Insulin / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Skeletal / diagnostic imaging
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / injuries
  • Muscular Diseases / chemically induced
  • Muscular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Muscular Diseases / prevention & control
  • Needlestick Injuries / diagnostic imaging
  • Needlestick Injuries / epidemiology
  • Needlestick Injuries / prevention & control*
  • Overweight / complications
  • Overweight / diagnostic imaging
  • Patient Safety*
  • Risk
  • Skin / diagnostic imaging*
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Skin / injuries
  • Subcutaneous Fat / diagnostic imaging*
  • Subcutaneous Fat / drug effects
  • Subcutaneous Fat / injuries
  • Subcutaneous Tissue / diagnostic imaging
  • Subcutaneous Tissue / drug effects
  • Subcutaneous Tissue / injuries
  • Ultrasonography
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin