Insulin: an evolving paradigm in diabetes management

The global incidence of diabetes mellitus has reached an alarming epidemic proportion. Of this large proportion, 5–10% are affected by type 1 diabetes while the remaining 90% with type 2 diabetes. In the UK, estimates suggest that this condition affects 2.9 million people. Insulin therapy is vital in the former category while this therapeutic mode is often included at a stage of the latter category to prevent respective hyperglycaemia and related micro and macrovascular complications. The modern pre-filled and re-usable pen devices used as insulin delivery system hold many advantages over the conventional approach which was often associated with dosage errors. The ease and flexibility offered by pen devices into a busy lifestyle aims to improve diabetes management with much less effort without impacting on people’s quality of life. Despite the promise of future developments in insulin delivery, serious considerations to cost implications should always be given in the management of diabetes.