Because insulin cannot be taken by mouth like most other hormones and treatments, children with diabetes have to inject themselves with insulin every day. Most children have 2 injections a day and many have up to 4 or 5. That means at least 730 injections a year and some children giving over 1800. The amount of insulin given depends on the time of day, the amount of food eaten and the amount and type of exercise undertaken.

For people without diabetes the body makes insulin as and when it is needed. The higher the levels of glucose in the blood the more insulin is made. When the glucose levels fall the body stops making insulin. This means glucose or sugar levels are kept at a very steady level.

When children with diabetes inject insulin, they have to work out how much their body is going to need over the next 3 to 12 hours and give the right amount.

They need to think about how much they are going to eat. The bigger the meal the more insulin they will need. Not enough insulin and the blood sugar levels will go high. Having high blood sugars  doesn't feel very nice. Children often feel more tired and they also become very thirsty and have to go to the toilet more. If they always have high sugar levels this can cause damage to the body and lead to long term complications