INSULIN SYRINGE DISPOSAL PRACTICES OF PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

Pediatric patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were surve yed over a 5-month period to determine disposal practices of insulin s yringes. Eighty-nine (79.5%) of 112 patients surveyed responded. Thirt y-three percent of the responders disposed of syringes in accordance w ith recommendations of the local health department and the American Di abetes Association, while the remaining patients did not. Fifty-two pe rcent of the patients rendered the syringes useless before disposal. T he study revealed a need to educate and inform patients on the proper procedures that should be followed when disposing of syringes in the h ome.