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BD Launches World’s Smallest Pen Needle. BD Micro-Fine™ + 4 mm x 32 G pen needle offers a more comfortable Injection, helping patients adhere to diabetes therapy
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Contact:
Vikki Lomas Email: vikki.lomas@europe.bd.com
BD Launches World’s Smallest Pen Needle
BD Micro-Fine™ + 4 mm x 32 G pen needle offers a more comfortable Injection, helping patients adhere to diabetes therapy
Oxford, UK (18 August 2010) – BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global medical technology company, announced today the launch of BD Micro-Fine™+ 4mm pen needle- the world’s smallest pen needle. This needle is proven to be as effective as longer needles for patients of all body types and proven to offer a less painful injection experience[1] for the estimated 800,000 people in the UK with diabetes using injectable therapies[2]. As many as 2.75 million people in the UK now have diabetes, a total that is forecast to climb to four million by 2025[3].
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. TheBD 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 theBD Micro-Fine™ + 4mm pen needle, we arealso 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[4] [5]. Patients who reported injection-related pain or embarrassment intentionally skipped insulin injections more often[6]. 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 needles4. It effectively delivers an insulin dose to subcutaneous tissue (the layer of fat below the skin), the recommended site for insulin injections6, while reducing the risk of injecting into muscle. Intramuscular injection can accelerate absorption and increase the risk of hypoglycemia (abnormally low blood sugar)[7] [8]. Subcutaneous injection allows the insulin to be absorbed at an appropriate rate, resulting in better glycaemic control [9].
End About Diabetes Diabetes is a disease in which the body has a shortage of insulin or a decreased ability to use insulin, a hormone that allows glucose (sugar) to enter cells and be converted to energy. When diabetes is not controlled, glucose and fats remain in the blood and, over time, damage vital organs.
About BD BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. BD's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 29,000 associates in more than 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com
[2]Diabetes inhaler rejected for NHS, [3]Beware the Silent Assassin, Diabetes UK, October 2008 [4]Zambanini A, Newson RB, Maisey M, Feher MD. Injection related anxiety in insulin-treated diabetes. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1999;46:239-246. [5]Klobassa N, Moreland P. Psychological insulin resistance stems from fear. MayoClinic.com Living with Diabetes Blog, January 20, 2010. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/psychological-insulin-resistance/MY01165. Accessed March 18, 2010. [6]Frid A. Fat thickness and insulin administration, what do we know? Infusystems Int. 2006;5(3):17-19. [7]Polak M, Beregszaszi M, Belarbi N, et al. Subcutaneous or intramuscular injections of insulin in children: are we injecting where we think we are? Diabetes Care 1996;19(12):1434-1436. [8]Birkebaek NH, Solvig J, Hansen B, Jorgensen C, Smedegaard J, Christiansen JS. A 4-mm needle reduces the risk of intramuscular injections without increasing backflow to skin surface in lean diabetic children and adults. Diabet Care 2008;31(9):e65. [9]Hofman PL, Lawton SA, Peart JM, et al. An angled insertion technique using 6-mm needles markedly reduces the risk of intramuscular injections in children and adolescents. Diabet Med 2007;24:1400-1405.
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