Exeter doctor advocates reusable insulin pens to reduce waste

Dr Vincent Simpson is aiming to reduce plastic waste and save the NHS money by promoting reusable insulin pens.

BBC Doctor in a gray sweater with a stethoscope around his neck. He is sitting in a chair in a hospital room — Dr Vincent Simpson is aiming to reduce plastic waste and save the NHS money by promoting reusable insulin pens.

A doctor and honorary fellow at the University of Exeter is leading the campaign to make reusable insulin pens standard of care for patients with diabetes.

Dr Vincent Simpson is aiming to reduce plastic waste and save the NHS money by urging doctors and patients to ditch disposable pens.

He said four million disposable insulin pens are currently prescribed each year, resulting in 79 tonnes of plastic waste and more than 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

“While some pens are recyclable, many simply end up in landfills or are incinerated,” he said.

Dr Simpson said some people don’t realize that “reusable pens are safe and easy to use”.

Two different types of insulin pens are shown: one has a silver body and the other has a plastic body. — Dr Simpson said some people don’t realize that “reusable pens are safe and easy to use”.

Dr Simpson said he decided to take action after realizing how much unnecessary waste was generated by diabetes treatment.

He said many patients need insulin injections several times a day to regulate their blood sugar, but the pens can be reused.

Dr Simpson said: “Many people, including doctors, don’t realize that reusable pens are both safe and easy to use, and are often cheaper for the NHS in the long run.

“My mission is to provide people who need to use insulin and healthcare professionals with the facts and knowledge so they can switch to a greener option.”

Diabetes patient Adrian Tame said he was happy to use reusable pens

A man with gray hair and a beard. He is wearing a gray sweater and sitting in a blue hospital chair. — Diabetes patient Adrian Tame said he was happy to use reusable pens

Adrian Tame, from Exeter, has type 1 diabetes and took his medication using disposable insulin pens for two years after he was diagnosed.

Three months ago, he switched to reusable insulin pens with cartridges.

“I hadn’t heard of reusable pens until Vincent told me,” he said.

“I immediately decided to change. The process went smoothly. I can change the cartridge every 10 days or so, and storing the cartridges saves space in my refrigerator.”

The BBC has contacted the Department of Health for comment.