Insulin for the uninitiated.

Insulin therapy is important in many patients with diabetes, but the UK National Diabetes Inpatient Audit (NaDIA) suggests that insulin therapy in hospital is poorly monitored and managed. Although most hospitals should have access to an inpatient diabetes specialist team, it is important for the non-specialist clinician to be aware of the indications for insulin therapy, types of insulin and insulin regimens, methods of adjusting insulin doses and the need for care with insulin prescribing. Here, we demystify issues around insulin therapy.