Healthcare professionals to adopt green insulin injection technique

In an effort to address safe and environment-friendly insulin disposal, healthcare professionals will initiate a nation-wide movement for green diabetology ‘Go Green Stay Fit’, which shall aim towards safe disposal of insulin

FIT Insulin Injection Day was observed in Mumbai and other parts of the country, with the adoption of FIT2.0 India recommendations. Amongst other best practices, the recommendations emphasise safe disposal of insulin syringes and pen needles as a means to reduce environmental impact of modern diabetes management.

On this occasion, the advisory board members of Forum for Injection Technique (FIT) India propagated the message of ‘Go Green Stay Fit’ in line with the article on Green Diabetology published in Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, IJEM emphasising the urgent need for proper disposal of insulin delivery sharp devices.

“While modern insulin technique guidelines address the need for appropriate disposal of needles and syringes, safe disposal of insulin delivery sharps is seldom practiced in clinic and home care environment,” said Dr Sanjay Kalra, FIT advisory broad member and lead author of the IJEM ‘Green Diabetology’ article.

Apart from environmental contamination, unsafe disposal is having an adverse impact on healthcare worker safety. As per CDC, every day more than 1000 healthcare workers in hospital setting are injured with a needle or other sharp device. This especially happens during insulin syringe/pen needle re-capping, intended for re-use. The WHO in the Policy Guidance released in February 2015, has identified the issue of reuse of syringes, accidental needle stick injury, unsafe sharps waste management.

As per the FIT recommendations, biomedical diabetes care-related wastes need to be recycled, not reused. This can not only prevent the spread of infections among waste handlers and end-users but also promote conservation and efficiency, and help in revenue generation for waste disposal sites. In an effort to address safe and environment-friendly insulin disposal, healthcare professionals will initiate a nation-wide movement for green diabetology ‘Go Green Stay Fit’, which shall aim towards safe disposal of insulin

The programme will also sensitise diabetes care professionals to their responsibility toward the physical environment, while reinforcing the need for interdisciplinary cooperation between all stakeholders.

“Under the Green Diabetology programme, we will be propagating safe disposal of insulin syringes and pen needles, prevention of reuse and education against re-capping insulin injecting devices to prevent accidental needle-stick injury. We will encourage adoption of simple practices that will facilitate optimal recycling and usage of insulin-related waste material while providing a source for revenue generation as well,” said Dr Hemraj B Chandalia, Director, Dept. of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai.