Ensuring the safe use of insulin in diabetes

Insulin therapy is life-saving for people with type 1 diabetes, and a key component of the treatment regimen for many people with type 2 diabetes. At the same time, insulin is a major cause of adverse drug events, some of which are so severe that they cause emergency admission to hospital. There is therefore much that needs to be done to improve the safe use of insulin in order to reduce medication errors and hospitalisation associated with hypoglycaemia.