A Study Assessing an Injection Port for Administration of Insulin

Objective. To compare an injection port (I-Port), a disposable device through which multiple doses of insulin may be injected, to standard multiple dose insulin administration. Design. Prospective, randomized crossover study. Methods. Seventy-four patients with diabetes being treated with daily injections of insulin were recruited at five clinical sites. The patients were randomly assigned to two of three treatment regimens: 1 ) standard injection (SI), 2 ) a single I-Port device, or 3 ) two separate I-Port devices (Dual I-Port) with each treatment regimen lasting for 3 weeks. Participants in the single I-Port regimen injected both regular human or rapid-acting insulin and insulin glargine through the same device, whereas participants in the Dual I-Port regimen injected each type of insulin through two separate devices. Participants were evaluated by measurements of glycosylated albumin and study questionnaires. Results. Participants' glycosylated albumin was not significantly different between SI, single I-Port, and Dual I-Port treatment regimens ( P = 0.99 for SI vs. single I-Port and P = 0.97 for single I-Port vs. Dual I-Port). Fifty of 72 participants (69.4%) reported that the I-Port was useful and helpful in the management of their diabetes. Conclusions. This study supports the utility and efficacy of administering multiple doses of insulin through a single I-Port device and concludes that the I-Port is a viable alternative to SI.