Diabetes (type 1 and type 2) in children and young people: diagnosis and management

Injecting 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. Your diabetes team should help you 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.

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').

You may be given a long‑acting insulin to inject once or twice a day and rapid‑acting insulin to inject before eating, or only the long-acting insulin. Your diabetes team will teach you when to inject your insulin and how much to take.

If your blood glucose levels are not within the values that you should aim for, your diabetes team may want to see you more often or give you a different kind of insulin.