Information for the public

Insulin for type 1 diabetes

Insulin for type 1 diabetes

Injecting insulin

Everyone with type 1 diabetes needs to take insulin. Insulin cannot be taken as a tablet and has to be injected. Your diabetes team will teach you how to inject yourself.

There are different ways to inject insulin. You could inject it with a syringe or an insulin pen, or you might have an insulin pump. Your diabetes team should help you to choose the way that works best for you. They should also check that this way is still working for you in the future.

Younger children can find out more about insulin and how to inject it on the Diabetes UK website.

Insulin pumps

An insulin pump is a small machine with a tube that goes under your skin. It gives you insulin throughout the day, so that you do not need to inject yourself. You can change how much insulin it is giving you by pressing buttons on the machine.

A pump is not right for everyone. You and your diabetes team should decide which way of giving insulin is best for you. You can find information about who should have an insulin pump on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) website.

Younger children can find out more about insulin pumps on the Diabetes UK website.

You should be given special boxes (called 'sharps bins') to put your used needles and lancets (finger prickers) in. You should also be told how to get rid of these boxes when they are full and how to get new ones.

Your insulin routine

There are several different types of insulin. Some work quickly (called 'rapid‑acting insulin') and some work more slowly (called 'long‑acting insulin').

When you first get diabetes, you should be given a rapid‑acting insulin to inject before eating and a long‑acting insulin to inject once or twice a day. This is called 'multiple daily injections'. Your diabetes team will teach you when to inject your insulin, and how much to take.

Multiple daily injections are not right for everyone. If they are not right for you, you may be offered a different kind of insulin treatment. This will normally be an insulin pump. Your diabetes team will teach you how to use the pump.

If you've tried multiple daily injections and an insulin pump, and neither of these are keeping your diabetes under control, your diabetes team may want to see you more often or give you a different kind of insulin.

Questions to ask about using insulin

  • Could you show me how to inject myself with insulin?

  • Where on my body should I inject insulin?

  • Will injecting insulin hurt?

  • Is there any medicine I can have that I do not have to inject?

  • Could you tell me more about the different ways of injecting insulin (for example, multiple daily injections or insulin pumps)?

  • Will I feel any different when I start injecting insulin?

  • How long will it take to start working?

  • Are there any risks with injecting insulin?

  • What will happen if I forget/stop injecting my insulin?

  • Why does my insulin not work as well as it used to?

  • Can you give me any written information? What websites are helpful?

  • Information Standard