The Hellenic study on insulin technique and administration (HELITA)

ABSTRACT Background The Hellenic study on Insulin Technique and Administration (HELITA) is a national questionnaire survey in Greece aiming to assess insulin administration practices among people with diabetes. Research design and methods The study enrolled 701 insulin-treated adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes recruited from 40 diabetes care settings. Participants completed a structured questionnaire on insulin administration practices and underwent physical assessment of all injection sites by diabetes educators. Results Most participants (57.6%) reused insulin pen needles, while 38.9% did not rotate injection sites. Incorrect insulin dose titration was reported by 17.3%, 39.1% used long needles (8 mm), and 30.1% stored insulin incorrectly after first use. Notably, 41.1% had never had their injection sites inspected by healthcare professionals, and lipohypertrophy was diagnosed in 55.1%. Multivariate analysis showed that missed insulin doses (Odds Ratio: 1.73, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.14–2.62, p = 0.01) and lipohypertrophy were associated with poorer glycemic control. Increased risk of lipohypertrophy was observed among participants who did not rotate injection sites, reused needles, or lacked systematic education on insulin administration. Conclusions Continuous education on insulin injection practices may contribute to improving glycemic control and reducing the risk of lipohypertrophy.