Impact of skin stretching on pain perception during subcutaneous insulin injection: A comparative study

Objectives Pain associated with subcutaneous injections remains a significant concern for diabetic patients requiring insulin, despite advancements in pen devices with shorter and thinner needles. Skin stretching before injection may help alleviate pain by modulating nerve impulse transmission at the injection site. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of skin stretching in reducing pain intensity during subcutaneous injections compared to the conventional injection technique. Material and Methods A comparative study was conducted among diabetic patients attending the medical Outpatient Department who regularly self-administer subcutaneous insulin injections. Patients with neuropathy, lipodystrophy, and chronic skin disorders were excluded. Participants were trained to perform tight skin stretching at the injection site before administration and were asked to compare pain intensity between the conventional and skin-stretching techniques. Pain intensity was self-reported using a visual analogue scale (VAS) ranging from 0–10. Results Initially, 350 patients were enrolled, and 30 were excluded based on the eligibility criteria. The mean age of the study population was 52.3 ± 10.8 years, with hypertension, coronary artery disease, and dyslipidemia being the most common comorbidities. Patients utilizing the skin-stretching technique reported significantly lower pain scores (VAS 2.1 ± 0.9) compared to those using the conventional method (VAS 5.6 ± 1.2, p <0.05). The reduction in pain was observed across different patient demographics and injection sites. Conclusion Skin stretching before subcutaneous injection significantly reduces pain perception compared to the conventional technique. This simple and easily adoptable modification may enhance patient comfort and improve adherence to injectable therapies.