September 2019
California’s Access to Care & Sharps Disposal in the Diabetic Community
Survey ParametersWhen: Conducted August 2019
Who: 500 respondents from California age 18+ with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
Ages: Gen Zs (18-24), Millennials (25-34), Baby Boomers (54+)
What: 21 question mobile survey
How: Direct to mobile users via Pollfish
Why: Designed to identify consumer concerns, habits and insight around diabetes care and sharps disposal, as well as the recent Senate Bill (SB) 212
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Executive Summary
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Californians with diabetes are concerned about
disposal, yet many are not safely disposing needles • More than a quarter (28%) of Californians with diabetes
think one of the biggest concerns when it comes to
diabetes care is how to properly dispose of
needles/lancets.
• One in seven (15%) typically dispose of used
needles/lancets in a trash can within their home, despite
the fact that the majority (65%) of Californians with
diabetes are concerned that their disposed
needles/lancets could harm someone in their household
or where they work.
• Additionally, one in five (20%) Californians with diabetes
typically take their used needles/lancets home and
dispose of them in a trash can.
• Another one in 20 (5%) Californians with diabetes
dispose of the needles/lancets in a public trash can
when they are not at home.
Executive Summary, Cont’d.
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A lack of disposal options for sharps may be to blame for
improper disposal, but a new California bill may help • Nearly half (42%) of Californians with diabetes think a lack
of public safety disposal containers is the biggest challenge
they face today when disposing needles/lancets.
• Additionally, more than half (54%) of Californians with
diabetes who have disposed of used needles/lancets in a
public trash can did so because there were no safe disposal
containers nearby and they had no other choice.
• However, California Senate Bill 212, which requires sharps
manufacturers and specified pharmaceutical drug
companies to establish, fund and promote a statewide
takeback system for these products might be the answer.
• Only half (54%) of Californians with diabetes are aware of
the bill, but of those who are aware, three-quarters (75%)
believe it will make disposal easier, as they’ll no longer have
to purchase their own waste containers.
Executive Summary, Cont’d.
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Administering diabetes care in public triggers feelings of embarrassment, anxiousness and nervousness • More than two thirds (67%) of Californians with diabetes have
administered an insulin injection in a public place.• However, more than half (53%) have never encountered a sharps
container in a public restroom.• That said, if they saw a sharps disposal container in a public
space or establishment, the majority (72%) of Californians with diabetes would use it to dispose of their insulin/lancet needles, proving the need for additional disposal containers to be placed in establishments across the country.
• A lack of disposal options is likely just one of many reasons why
more than a quarter (27%) of Californians with diabetes feel
embarrassed when administering their insulin/medication in
public, another quarter (24%) feel anxious and a fifth (20%) feel
nervous.
• Less than one in six (15%) Californians with diabetes feel
comfortable administering their insulin/medication in public.
Executive Summary, Cont’d.
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Overall, greater awareness and access to safe sharps disposal methods is needed• Nearly a quarter (23%) of Californians with diabetes
have not talked with their doctor about proper needle disposal, and therefore may not be aware of proper disposal methods.
• A fifth (21%) of Californians with diabetes think a lack of options for disposing needles/lancets at home is the biggest challenge people with diabetes face today when disposing needles/lancets.
• The majority (88%) of Californians with diabetes think at-home sharps disposal kit would help them manage their diabetes care more easily, giving them another option for disposal.
• With the introduction of California Senate Bill 212 we will likely see positive changes in access to safe sharps disposal.
Screening question
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● All respondents who selected “yes” were able to proceed with the survey
Do you have type 1 or 2 diabetes?
Question 1 Results
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● When asked which of the following issues they think are the biggest concerns when it comes to diabetes
care, Californians with diabetes said cost (68%) is the biggest concern followed by access to care (45%)
administration of care (36%), lack of conversation and awareness (30%), how to properly dispose of
needles/lancets (28%) and community support (21%)
Of the following, which issues do you think are the biggest concerns when it comes to diabetes care?
Question 1 Additional Findings
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Men and women agree on the majority of concerns when it comes to diabetes care
● The majority (67%) of men and the majority (68%) of women are the most concerned about cost of care
Women’s additional biggest concerns are:
● Access to care (43%)
● Administration of care (33%)
● Lack of conversation and awareness (32%)
● How to properly dispose of needles/lancets (26%)
● Community support (21%)
Baby boomers are the least concerned about cost of and access to care, compared to Millennials and Gen Zs
● 61% percent of Baby Boomers are concerned about cost of care, compared to Millennials (72%) and Gen Zs (75%)
● Only 37% of Baby Boomers are concerned about access to care, compared to Millennials (50%) and Gen Zs (50%)
Men’s additional biggest concerns are:
● Access to care (48%)
● Administration of care (41%)
● Lack of conversation and awareness (29%)
● How to properly dispose of needles/lancets (31%)
● Community support (20%)
Question 2 Results
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Where is it most difficult for you to administer insulin/diabetes care?
● A third (34%) of Californians with diabetes find it most difficult for to administer insulin/diabetes care
while traveling for work or leisure
● A third (33%) find it most difficult while attending social activities
● Three in 10 (31%) find it most difficult at work or school
Question 2 Additional Findings
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Men are more likely than women to find it most difficult to administer insulin/diabetes care while traveling for
work, while women are more likely than men to find it most difficult while attending social activities
● 35% men find it most difficult to administer insulin/diabetes care while traveling for work or leisure, compared
to 33% of women
● 34% of women find it most difficult to administer insulin/diabetes care while attending social activities,
compared to 30% of men
Baby Boomers, Millennials and Gen Zs all have different takes on where it’s most difficult for them to
administer insulin/diabetes care
● 38% of Baby Boomers find it most difficult to administer insulin/diabetes care while attending social activities
compared to Millennials (23%) and Gen Zs (26%)
● 41% of Millennials find it most difficult to administer insulin/diabetes care while traveling for work or leisure,
compared to Gen Zs (32%) and Baby Boomers (33%)
● 40% of Gen Zs find it most difficult to administer insulin/diabetes care at work or school, compared to
Millennials (35%) and Baby Boomers (20%)
Question 3 Results
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● More than a quarter (27%) of Californians with diabetes feel embarrassed when administering their
insulin/medication in public, while a fifth (20%) feel nervous) and a quarter (24%) feel anxious
● Only 15% of Californians with diabetes feel comfortable administering their insulin/medication in public
● More than one in 10 (11%) have never administered their insulin/medication in public
Of the following, which best represents your feeling when administering your insulin/medication in public?
Question 3 Additional Findings
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Men and women are both embarrassed when administering their insulin/medication in public
● More than a quarter (27%) of both men and women feel embarrassed when administering their
insulin/medication in public
● More than a quarter (27%) are also anxious when administering their insulin/medication in public, compared to
22% of women
● Men (21%) are slightly more nervous than women (19%) when administering their insulin/medication in public
Millennials are the most anxious when administering their insulin/medication in public
● Millennials (32%) are the most likely to be anxious when administering their insulin/medication in public
compared to Gen Zs (25%) and Baby Boomers (14%)
● Gen Zs (26%) and Baby Boomers (29%) are both most likely to feel embarrassed when administering their
insulin/medication in public
Question 4 Results
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Have you talked with friends and family about how to administer care/insulin to you in the event of an
emergency?
● More than one in five (21%) Californians with diabetes have not talked with friends and family about how to
administer care/insulin to them in the event of an emergency
● 78% have talked with friends and family about how to administer care/insulin to them in the event of an
emergency
Question 4 Additional Findings
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Men are slightly more likely than women have talked with friends and family about how to administer
care/insulin to them in the event of an emergency
● Eight in 10 (80%) of men have talked with friends and family about how to administer care/insulin to them in the
event of an emergency, compared to women (78%)
Millenials are the most likely to have talked with friends and family about how to administer care/insulin to
them in the event of an emergency
● Millennials (88%) are the most likely to have talked with friends and family about how to administer care/insulin
to them in the event of an emergency, compared to Baby Boomers (69%) and Gen Zs (72%)
Question 5 Results
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Of the following, which best describes how you typically dispose of your used needles/lancets at
home on a daily basis?
● The majority (73%) of Californians with diabetes typically dispose of their used needles/lancets in a safe disposal
container in their home
● One in seven (15%) typically dispose of used needles/lancets in a trash can and 11% usually dispose of
needles/lancets in a safe disposal container in public
Question 5 Additional Findings
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Men are more likely than women to dispose of their used needles/lancets in a trash can at home
● A fifth (20%) of men typically dispose of their used needles/lancets in a trash can in their home, compared to
11% of women who say the same
● Women (76%) are more likely than men (68%) to typically dispose of their used needles/lancets in a safe
disposal container in their home
Millennials are the most likely to use safe disposal containers in their home to dispose of their used
needles/lancets
● Millennials (70%) are more likely than Gen Zs (65%) or Baby Boomers (63%) to typically use safe disposal
containers in their homes to dispose of their used needles/lancets when they’re at home
● Millennials (13%) are the least likely to typically use public safe disposal containers to dispose of used
needles/lancets when at home, compared to Gen Zs (17%) and Baby Boomers (17%)
Question 6 Results
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Of the following, which best describes how you typically dispose of your used needles/lancets on a
daily basis when you are NOT at home?
● More than half (56%) of Californians with diabetes typically dispose of used needles/lancets in a personal safe
disposal container and one in seven (14%) dispose of them in a safe disposal container in public
● However one in five (20%) typically take used needles/lancets home and dispose of them in a trash can, and
another 5% dispose of the needles in a public trash can
Question 6 Additional Findings
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Men are more than twice as likely as women to dispose of used needles in a public trash can
● Eight percent of men typically dispose used needles/lancets in a public trash can when they are not at home,
while just three percent of women say the same
● Men (25%) are also more likely to typically take used needles/lancets home and dispose of them in a trash can
there, compared to 16% of women
Baby Boomers are the most likely to dispose of used needles/lancets in a public trash can when they are not at
home
● 10% of Baby Boomers typically dispose of used needles/lancets on a daily basis in a public trash can when they
are not at home, compared to Millennials (4%) and Gen Z (9%)
● Millennials (54%) and Gen Z (54%) are more likely than Baby Boomers (49%) typically dispose of used
needles/lancets in a safe disposal container in public when they are not at home
Question 7 Results
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If you disposed of a needle/lancet in a public trash can, which of the following best describes why
you disposed of a needle/lancet in a public trash can?
● More than half (54%) of Californians with diabetes who have disposed of used needles/lancets in a public trash
can did so because there were no safe disposal containers nearby and they had no other choice
● Nearly three in 10 (27%) usually discard needles in trash cans, and nearly two in 10 (19%) wanted to get rid of
the needle as quickly as possible
Question 8 Results
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Are you aware of the needle/lancet disposal laws in your city and state?
● The majority (63%) of Californians with diabetes are aware of the needle/lancet disposal laws in their state, but
32% are not aware
Question 8 Additional Findings
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Men are more likely than women to be aware of the needle/lancet disposal laws in their city and state
● 65% of men and 61% of women are aware of the needle/lancet laws in their city and state
Baby Boomers are the least likely to be aware of the needle/lancet disposal laws in their city and state
● Just 47% of Baby Boomers are aware of the needle/lancet laws in their city and state, compared to Millennials
(70%) and Gen Zs (63%)
Question 9 Results
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Are you aware of California Senate Bill 212, requiring sharps manufacturers and specified
pharmaceutical drug companies to establish, fund and promote a statewide takeback system for
these products?
● Only half (54%) of Californians with diabetes are aware of California Senate Bill 212
● 39% of are not aware of Senate Bill 212
Question 9 Additional Findings
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Men are more likely than women to be aware of California Senate Bill 212
● 57% of men and 51% of women are aware of the California Senate Bill 212
● 37% of men and 41% of women are NOT aware of the California Senate Bill 212
Millennials are the most likely to be aware of California Senate Bill 212
● 63% of Millennials are aware of California Senate Bill 212, compared to Baby Boomers (35%) and Gen Zs (56%)
● 55% of Baby Boomers are NOT aware of the California Senate Bill 212, compared to Millennials (31%) and Gen
Zs (38%)
Question 10 Results
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If you are aware of California Senate Bill 212, do you think this bill will make your disposal of
needles/lancets easier?
● Three quarters (75%) of Californians who are aware of Senate Bill 212 think it will make disposal easier as
they’ll no longer have to purchase their own waste container
● More than one in 10 (12%) do not think the bill will impact their personal disposal of needles/lancets
● Another 12% are not sure, but do think the bill is a step in the right direction for improving diabetes care
Question 10 Additional Findings
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Men are slightly more likely than women to think California Senate Bill 212 will make disposal easier
● 80% of men and 72% of women think California Senate Bill 212 will make disposal easier as they’ll no longer
have to purchase their own waste container
● 10% of men and 13% of women do not think the bill will impact their personal disposal of needles/lancets
● 9% of men and 14% of women are not sure, but think the bill is a step in the right direction for improving
diabetes care
Gen Z, Millennials and Baby Boomers agree the California Senate Bill 212 will make disposal easier
● The majority of Gen Zs (74%), Millennials (75%) and Baby Boomers (71%) think the bill will make disposal easier
as they’ll no longer have to purchase their own waste container
● 11% of Gen Z, 12% of Millennials and 12% of Baby Boomers do not think the bill will impact their personal
disposal of needles/lancets
● 16% of Gen Zs, 14% of Millennials and 12% of Baby Boomers are not sure, but think the bill is a step in the right
direction for improving diabetes care
Question 11 Results
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Where do you keep UNUSED needles/lancets in your household?
● Half (51%) of Californians with diabetes keep unused needles/lancets in a locked drawer or cabinet that only
they have access too, however, more than a fifth (21%) keep unused needles/lancets in an unlocked container,
and 23% keep them in their bathroom cabinet
Question 11 Additional Findings
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Men and women have similar storage habits for keeping unused needles/lancets
● 50% of women and 52% of men keep their unused needles/lancets in a locked drawer or cabinet that only they
have access to, while 28% of men and 24% of women keep them in an unlocked container
● Additionally, 20% of women and 28% of men keep their unused needles/lancets in their bathroom cabinet
Baby Boomers are the most likely to keep their unused needles/lancets in an unlocked container
● 43% of Baby Boomers keep unused needles/lancets in an unlocked container in their household, compared to
19% of Millennials and 19% of Gen Zs
● Gen Zs (25%) are most likely to keep unused needles/lancets in their bathroom cabinet, compared to Millennials
(21%) and Baby Boomers (24%)
Question 12 Results
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Would an at-home sharps disposal kit help you manage your diabetes care more easily?
● Nearly nine in 10 (88%) Californians with diabetes think an at-home sharps disposal kit would help them
manage their diabetes care more easily
● Just 7% think an at-home sharps disposal kit would not help them manage their diabetes care more
easily
Question 12 Additional Findings
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Women are slightly more likely than men to think an at-home sharps disposal kit would help them manage
their diabetes care more easily
● 90% of women think an at-home sharps disposal kit would help them manage their diabetes care more easily,
compared to 86% of men
Millennials are the most likely to think an at-home sharps disposal kit would help them manage their diabetes
care more easily
● More than nine in 10 (91%) Gen Zs think an at-home sharps disposal kit would help them manage their diabetes
care more easily, compared to 81% of Gen Zs and 88% of Baby Boomers
Question 13 Results
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Have you ever administered an insulin injection in a public place?
● 67% of Californians with diabetes have administered an insulin injection in a public place and 32% have not
Question 13 Additional Findings
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More men than women have administered an insulin injection in a public place
● 72% of men have administered an insulin injection in a public place, compared to 63% of women
Millennials are the most likely to have administered an insulin injection in a public place
● Nearly three quarters (72%) of Millenials have administered an insulin injection in a public place compared to 63% of Gen
Zs and 53% of Baby Boomers
Question 14 Results
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If you have administered an insulin injection in a public place, how did you dispose of your
needle/lancet?
● Of Californians with diabetes who have administered an insulin injection in a public place, 37% brought the
needle/lancet home and disposed of it in a trash can there
○ Nearly one in eight (12%) disposed of the needle/lancet in a public trash can
○ 28% disposed of the needle/lancet in their own personal safe disposal container
○ 22% disposed of the needle/lancet in a public safe disposal container
Question 14 Additional Findings
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Of Californians with diabetes who have administered an insulin injection in a public place, men are more likely
than women to dispose of the needle/lancet in a public trash can.
● 20% of men disposed of their needle/lancet in a public trash can compared to just 5% of women
● However, women (38%) are slightly more likely than men (36%) to bring the needle/lancet home and dispose of
it in a trash can there.
● Women (31%) are also more likely than men (26%) to dispose of the needle/lancet in a personal safe disposal
container, and women (25%) are more likely than men (18%) to dispose of the needle/lancet in a public safe
disposal container
Baby Boomers who have administered an insulin injection in a public place, are the most likely to dispose of the
needle/lancet in their own personal safe disposal container
● 38% of Baby Boomers dispose of the needle/lancet in their own personal safe disposal container, compared to
Millennials (24%) and Gen Zs (26%)
● Millennials (38%) are the most likely to bring the needle/lancet home and disposed of it in a trash can there,
compared to Gen Zs (28%) and Baby Boomers (31%)
● Gen Zs (33%) are the most likely to dispose the needle/lancet in a public safe disposal container, compared to
Millennials (22%) and Baby Boomers (15%)
Question 15 Results
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Have you ever encountered a sharps container in a public restroom (e.g. at a retail, food, gas station
or other establishment)?
● Nearly half (45%) of Californians with diabetes have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom, but
more than half (53%) have not.
Question 15 Additional Findings
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Fewer women than men have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom
● 51% of men have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom, compared to 40% of women
Baby Boomers are the least likely to have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom
● Less than a third (31%) of Baby Boomers have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom, compared to
Millennials (49%) and Gen Zs (54%)
Question 16 Results
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If you have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom, in which type of establishments have
you seen sharps containers in public restrooms?
● Californians with diabetes who have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom, are most likely to have
seen a sharps container in a public restroom at a fast food establishment (47%)
○ 44% have seen a sharps container in a public restroom at a shopping mall
○ 43% have seen a sharps container in a public restroom at an airport
○ 37% have seen a sharps container in a public restroom at a retailer or gas station
○ 27% have seen a sharps container in a public restroom at a sit-down restaurant
Question 16 Additional Findings
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Of Californians with diabetes who have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom, the majority of
men have seen sharps containers in a public restroom at a fast food establishment, and the majority of women
have seen sharps containers in a public restroom at a shopping mall
● 57% of men and 38% of women who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom are most likely to have
seen it at a fast food establishment
● 51% of women and 36% of men who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom are most likely to have
seen it at a shopping mall
Women also saw sharps containers in
public restrooms at:
● Airport (50%)
● Gas station (32%)
● Retailer (41%)
● Sit-down Restaurant (29%)
Men also saw sharps containers in public
restrooms at:
● Gas station (44%)
● Airport (34%)
● Retailer (33%)
● Sit-down Restaurant (24%)
Gen Zs are most likely to have seen sharps containers in a public restroom at a shopping mall
● 59% of Gen Zs who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom are most likely to have seen it at a
shopping mall, compared to Millennials (48%) and Baby Boomers (27%)
Question 17 Results
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How did this change your perception of the brand/restaurant/retailer?
● The majority of Californians with diabetes (61%) who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom think
more highly of the brand/restaurant/retailer
● 24% think more poorly of the brand/restaurant/retailer
● 13% did not change their perception of the brand/restaurant/retailer
Question 17 Additional Findings
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Women who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom are more likely than men to think more highly
of the brand/restaurant/retailer
● 65% of women who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom think more highly of the
brand/restaurant/retailer, compared to 57% of men
● 27% of men and 22% of women who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom think more poorly of the
brand/restaurant/retailer
Baby Boomers who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom are the most likely not change their
perception of the brand/restaurant/retailer
● 20% of Baby Boomers who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom did not change their perception of
the brand/restaurant/retailer, compared to Millennials (14%) and Gen Zs (8%)
● Gen Zs (73%) who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom think more highly of the
brand/restaurant/retailer, compared to Millennials (63%) and Baby Boomers (53%)
Question 18 Results
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If you saw a sharps disposal container in a public space (e.g. park) or establishment (e.g. retailer,
restaurant, etc.) would you be inclined to use it to dispose of your insulin/lancet needles?
● If they saw a sharps disposal container in a public space or establishment, the majority (72%) of Californians with
diabetes would use it to dispose of their insulin/lancet needles
● More than a fifth (21%) would not use it to dispose of their insulin/lancet needles
Question 18 Additional Findings
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When compared to men, women who saw a sharps disposal container in a public space or establishment are
slightly more likely to use it to dispose of their insulin/lancet needles than men
● Men (79%) are more likely to use a sharps disposal container in a public space or establishment to dispose of
their insulin/lancet needles than women (67%)
If they saw a sharps disposal container in a public space or establishment, Baby Boomers are the most likely to
use it to dispose of their insulin/lancet needles
● Baby Boomers (78%) are the most likely to use a sharps disposal container in a public space or establishment to
dispose of their insulin/lancet needles, compared to Gen Zs (66%) and Millennials 72%)
Question 19 Results
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Are you concerned that your disposed needles/lancets could harm someone in your household or
where you work?
● The majority (65%) of Californians with diabetes are concerned that their disposed needles/lancets could harm
someone in their household or where they work
● Nearly a third (32%) are not concerned that their disposed needles/lancets could harm someone in their
household or where they work
Question 19 Additional Findings
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Men are more likely than women to be concerned that their disposed needles/lancets could harm someone in
their household or where they work
● 71% of men are concerned that their disposed needles/lancets could harm someone in their household or
where they work, compared to 61% of women
Gen Zs and Millennials are the most likely to be concerned that their disposed needles/lancets could harm
someone in their household or where they work
● 68% of both Gen Zs and Millennials are concerned that their disposed needles/lancets could harm someone in
their household or where they work, compared to 59% of Baby Boomers
Question 20 Results
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Have you ever talked with your doctor about proper needle disposal (i.e. how to dispose of your
sharps in public and/or at home)?
● Although 76% of Californians with diabetes have talked with their doctor about proper needle disposal, nearly a
quarter (23%) have not
Question 20 Additional Findings
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Men are slightly more likely than women to have talked with their doctor about proper needle disposal
● 78% of men and 74% of women have talked with their doctor about proper needle disposal
Baby Boomers are the most likely NOT to have talked to their doctor about proper needle disposal
● Baby Boomers (47%) are the most likely NOT to have talked with their doctor about proper needle disposal,
compared to Gen Zs (19%) and Millennials (13%)
Question 21 Results
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In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge diabetics face today in terms of disposing of
needles/lancets?
● More than four in 10 (42%) Californians with diabetes find lack of public safety disposal containers is the biggest
challenge people with diabetes face today in disposing needles/lancets followed by:
○ 21%: lack of options for disposing needles/lancets at home
○ 19%: ensuring their family and friends are not exposed to needles
○ 15%: ensuring their used needles to do not impact the environment
Question 21 Additional Findings
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Women are slightly more likely than men to believe the biggest challenge people with diabetes face disposing
of needles/lancets is the lack of public safety disposal containers
● Women (43%) believe the biggest challenge people with diabetes face disposing of needles/lancets is the lack of
public safety disposal containers, compared to men (42%)
● Women (21%) are also more likely than men (20%) to believe the biggest challenge people with diabetes face
disposing of needles/lancets is the lack of options for disposing them at home
Baby Boomers are the most likely to believe the biggest challenge people with diabetes face today disposing of
needles/lancets is the lack of public safety disposal containers
● Baby Boomers (45%) are the most likely to believe the biggest challenge people with diabetes face disposing of
needles/lancets is the lack of public safety disposal containers, compared to Millennials (38%) and Gen Zs (37%)
● Baby Boomers (22%) and Gen Zs (22%) the least likely to believe that the biggest challenge people with diabetes
face disposing of needles/lancets is lack of options for disposing them at home, compared to Millennials (25%)
Thank you.