A Pilot Study on Disposal Practices and Environmental Awareness of Insulin-Related Devices Among People With Diabetes
Authors' conclusion
Despite high perceived personal responsibility, disposal practices and recycling awareness among insulin users remain inadequate.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with diabetes using insulin devices at 2 hospital sites in Singapore; mean age 46.0 ± 13.6 years; 56.7% femalecompleted the survey
- Participants
- 60 adults
- Outcome
- Sharps disposal practices
Methodological detailspilot, anonymized survey, 2 hospital sites
- Pilot
- Anonymized survey
- 2 hospital sites
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Reported receiving advice on safe sharps disposal
- 76.7%
- Used designated sharps containers for lancets
- 6.7%
- Discarded lancets directly into general waste
- 25.0%
- Used plastic bottles for insulin needles and syringes
- around half
- Used plastic bags or discarded insulin needles and syringes directly into general waste
- 20%
- Receipt of advice from health care professionals independently associated with safer sharps disposal (P = .002)
- ≈20-fold higher odds
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Recycling awareness
- Unaware that plastics in insulin pens are not recycled
- 75%
- Did not know of available recycling facilities
- 55%
Attitudes
- Participants generally acknowledged improper sharps disposal is a serious safety problem and considered proper disposal their personal responsibility
Original publication
A Pilot Study on Disposal Practices and Environmental Awareness of Insulin-Related Devices Among People With Diabetes. J Diabetes Sci Technol. Published 1 July 2026. doi:10.
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