Needle-free insulin injection improves blood sugar control and reduces pain in hospitalized type 2 diabetes patients
Last updated May 7, 2026
Key finding
A 12-day study in 63 hospitalized type 2 diabetes patients found that needle-free insulin injection achieved better blood sugar control, reduced glucose swings, and caused less pain than conventional insulin pens.
This study compared needle-free insulin injectors to traditional insulin pens in hospitalized people with type 2 diabetes needing intensive insulin therapy. After about 12 days, those using needle-free devices had better blood sugar control, less glucose variability, faster achievement of target levels, fewer injection-site problems, less pain, and higher satisfaction without increased low blood sugar episodes.
Quick read
Study at a glance
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EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Study type
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Follow-up
Short-Term (≤3 mo)
Risk of bias
Some Concerns
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Plain-language summary
What this paper says
A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.
Study focus
A 12-day study in 63 hospitalized type 2 diabetes patients found that needle-free insulin injection achieved better blood sugar control, reduced glucose swings, and caused less pain than conventional insulin pens.
Published in
Journal Reference
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Wang J, Liu Z, Jiao L, et al. Efficacy and safety of needle-free injection in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergoing intensive insulin therapy: a randomized controlled trial based on the flash glucose monitoring system. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2026;16:1652388. doi:10.3389/fendo.2025.1652388
Main Effects
↓ Fasting plasma glucose (mean reduction 7.24 mmol/L in NFI vs 5.82 mmol/L in CIP, p<0.05)
↓ Postprandial glucose (mean reduction 8.65 mmol/L in NFI vs 6.68 mmol/L in CIP, p<0.05)
↑ Time in range (83.6% in NFI vs 76.8% in CIP, p<0.01)
Evidence Suggest
- Needle-free insulin injection achieved significantly better glycemic control than conventional insulin pens during short-term intensive therapy
- Glucose variability was reduced with needle-free injection, as shown by higher time in range and lower glycemic excursion amplitudes
- Needle-free devices caused substantially less injection pain and improved patient satisfaction without increasing hypoglycemia risk
Who this applies to
This study enrolled hospitalized adults aged 18-70 with type 2 diabetes requiring intensive insulin therapy, including newly diagnosed patients with HbA1c ≥9% or FPG ≥11.1 mmol/L, or those with persistent poor control despite 3 months of oral medications. Average participants were in their early 40s, overweight, and had moderately high baseline glucose levels.
Keep in Mind
This was a very short study in a hospital setting with intensive monitoring that may not reflect real-world outpatient use. The open-label design means participants and staff knew which device was being used, which could affect subjective outcomes like pain and satisfaction ratings. Longer studies are needed to determine if these benefits persist over months or years and whether needle-free devices improve long-term adherence and outcomes. The study also didn't assess cost-effectiveness or device availability issues.
Between the Lines
- Very short study duration (12 days) limits understanding of long-term effectiveness and sustainability
- Small sample size (63 participants) from single hospital reduces generalizability
- Conducted only in hospitalized patients, unclear if results apply to outpatient settings
- Open-label design may have influenced subjective outcomes like pain and satisfaction
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