Understanding the principles of insulin use in type 1 and type 2 diabetes management
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Understanding the principles of insulin use in type 1 and type 2 diabetes management

Theresa Smyth Nurse Consultant in Diabetes, Diabetes Centre, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, England, and honorary visiting professor at Birmingham City University, Birmingham, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To enhance your knowledge of the use of insulin therapy in diabetes mellitus

  • To familiarise yourself with the various types of insulin therapy available

  • To understand the safety measures required when administering insulin

The year 2021 marks 100 years since the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of insulin as a medical treatment for diabetes mellitus. Its discovery changed type 1 diabetes from a terminal condition with a short life expectancy to one of long-term management, with patients now often living long and fulfilling lives. Today, much of the advice, support and prescribing of insulin is undertaken by nurses, including general nurses and those specialising in diabetes. This article provides an overview of the principles of insulin use in the management of diabetes, with the aim of enhancing nursing knowledge and improving the care of patients with diabetes.

Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2020.e11677

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software

@theresamsmyth

Correspondence

Theresa.Smyth@uhb.nhs.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Smyth T (2020) Understanding the principles of insulin use in type 1 and type 2 diabetes management. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2020.e11677

Published online: 30 December 2020

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