BD launches microfine needle for diabetics

15 Sept 2010

BD has launched the BD Micro-Fine+ 4mm pen needle for diabetics, which it claims is the world’s smallest pen needle. This needle is proven to be as effective as longer needles for patients of all body types and to offer a less painful injection experience.

Jazz Panchoo, Business Director, UK and Ireland, BD Medical, Diabetes Care, comments: “Helping patients with diabetes to manage their condition as effectively as possible is critical to managing their quality of life and their long-term health. BD is committed to helping improve the injection experience for the millions of people who live with diabetes.

"The BD Micro-Fine+ 4mm pen needle is our most comfortable injection experience ever. We are confident that this tiny needle can have a big impact by easing diabetes patients’ transition to, and ongoing adherence to, injectable drug therapy regimens — a key element in helping to reduce the disease’s deadly, debilitating and costly complications. In launching the BD Micro-Fine+ 4mm pen needle, we are also able to offer patients a broader choice when wanting to use a short needle.”

Studies suggest that as many as one-fifth to one-third of people with diabetes are hesitant or unwilling to give themselves insulin injections for reasons that include needle anxiety. Patients who reported injection-related pain or embarrassment intentionally skipped insulin injections more often. The short length (4 mm) and thin gauge (32 G) of the BD Micro-Fine + pen needle may help people with diabetes adhere to an insulin injection regimen and improve outcomes with its comfort and ease of use.

Clinical trials demonstrated that insulin injections with the BD Micro-Fine + pen needle provide equivalent glucose control to longer insulin pen needles. It effectively delivers an insulin dose to subcutaneous tissue (the layer of fat below the skin), the recommended site for insulin injections, while reducing the risk of injecting into muscle. Intramuscular injection can accelerate absorption and increase the risk of hypoglycemia (abnormally low blood sugar). Subcutaneous injection allows the insulin to be absorbed at an appropriate rate, resulting in better glycaemic control.