People with diabetes occupy a significant proportion of hospital beds – about 10% in the UK, although this may be an underestimate. While diabetes specialists are often based in a hospital, the majority of people with diabetes who are admitted to hospital – at a time when their diabetes might be difficult to control – do not actually meet the diabetes team. In many cases, people with diabetes who are normally perfectly able to manage their insulin and dietary adjustment have their insulin taken away from them, often unnecessarily, and placed in the hands of people who appear not to understand their condition. The authors look at a range of such common problems, and make a call for a team-based approach to ensure proactive diabetes care and good standards of education, and thus reduce and improve people’s hospital stays.