Introduction

Insulin is a life saving drug. Learn how to prescribe and give it safely. If you don’t you could kill someone. Learn from these true stories.  

• Only give insulin in a syringe, pen or pump designed solely for insulin. Never use any other syringe or device.
  
• Never inject insulin if you have not been trained how to do so. If in doubt, ask.
  
• Patients on insulin usually know how to inject their own insulin – listen to the patient. In most cases, unless they are too ill or confused, the patient is the best person to inject their own insulin.
  
• Do you know your diabetes specialist team’s phone number? Check now.
  
• Do you know your pharmacist’s advice phone number? Check now.

Check – before you inject insulin

• Right insulin– check the name.
• Right dose – check strength and how much insulin to give. Check the numbers very carefully.
• Right time – with food? At bedtime?
• Right way – via syringe, pen or pump?  

Always ask the patient – show them the insulin and what you are about to do.

SUI Podcasts

Quick Links

Diabetes: Insulin Use it Safely Patient Booklet (PDF 491.2KB)

Safe Use of Insulin and You Patient Information Booklet (PDF 398.2KB)

NPSA Rapid Response Report - Safer Administration of Insulin (PDF 60KB)

NPSA Alert - The adult patient's passport to safer use of insulin

True stories

Monthly Index of Medical Specialties (MIMS) online

British National Formulary (BNF)

electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC)