In pursuit of excellence in diabetes care: trends in insulin delivery

Diabetes mellitus has been estimated to affect 2.9 million people in the UK. Large-scale clinical trials conclusively demonstrate that elevated blood glucose levels are associated with an increased risk of micro- and macrovascular complications. The high rates of morbidity and mortality associated with this condition demonstrate how important effective glycaemic control is. Subcutaneous insulin injection continues to be the mainstay of therapy for all people with type 1 diabetes mellitus and the majority of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, there are a number of barriers to insulin therapy. For example, conventional insulin delivery is arguably time consuming. Furthermore, it has been associated with common errors, such as inaccurate dosing and administration (National Patient Safety Agency, 2010). Insulin pen devices have various advantages over conventional delivery. Their ease of use and incorporation into busy lifestyles may improve diabetes control with much less effort, while maintaining adherence and quality of life. Research in insulin delivery shows there is a prospect of needle-free delivery in the near future. Despite such progress, the role of the healthcare professionals in involving, assessing, supporting and educating people having insulin therapy, including the attainment of the agreed blood glucose levels, cannot be overestimated.