OBJECTIVE—To compare efficacy, safety and tolerability of subcutaneous insulin aspart delivery by jet injector (InsuJetTM, European Pharma Group, The Netherlands) with pen injection in an open label, randomized, cross-over pilot study.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Ten participants with type 1 diabetes underwent two meal tolerance tests (MTTs) 1 week apart. Plasma glucose and serum insulin levels were sampled from 10 minutes preceding to 240 minutes after insulin aspart administration by InsuJetTM or FlexPen®. Insulin dose was calculated using participants’ insulin to carbohydrate ratios. Immediately after insulin administration, participants drank 500 mls Ensure (Abbott Australasia Pty. Ltd., Botany, NSW); [energy 2240 kJ, protein, 18.6 g, carbohydrate 96 g, fat 3 g].
RESULTS—There was no statistically significant difference between the devices in glucose excursion (median [quartile 1, quartile 3] InsuJetTM: 9.4 [4.8, 12.8] vs. FlexPen®: 8.1 [5.4, 10.6] mmol/L, P=0.43), or in the area under the glucose concentration-time curve (AUC)glu (0-240) (InsuJetTM 2966 [2671,3950] vs. FlexPen® 3001 [1707, 3786] mmol min/L, P=0.38). There was no statistically significant difference in insulin absorption over 240 mins. Devices were similar for participant preference and relative injection pain.
CONCLUSIONS—Subcutaneous jet injection of aspart insulin was well tolerated and as effective as pen injection in controlling post-prandial glucose levels.
DISCLOSURES - This study was funded by Pharmaco Australia. Pharmaco Australia was not involved in the design or execution of the study, in data analysis or interpretation, or in the writing of the manuscript.