The Effect of Using the Insulin Pump Bolus Calculator Compared to Standard Insulin Dosage Calculations in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus - Systematic Review

Abstract

Modern insulin pumps use bolus calculators to determine the appropriate insulin dose to facilitate achievement of glycaemic targets.To summarize the data on insulin pump bolus calculators compared to standard insulin dosage calculations and the impact on glycaemic profile.The MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched until October 2012 for related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies performed in type 1 diabetes. A meta-analysis of RCTs was conducted.We included 6 trials comprising 354 subjects. Combined data of 2 RCTs showed significantly smaller number of correction boluses in the experimental group (MD - 2.31; 95% CI: - 3.59 to - 1.03; p=0.0004) and a trend toward fewer hypoglycaemic episodes per week (MD - 0.47; from - 0.95 to 0.02; 95% CI; p=0.06) in the experimental group compared to control subjects. Other authors reported significant reduction in daily post-prandial blood glucose values in the experimental group compared to controls. The authors observed only one adverse event. More frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose in the experimental group was reported in 3 trials. There were no differences in HbA1c within the groups. Patients were satisfied with the treatment with bolus calculator, according to the treatment satisfaction scale.Insulin pump bolus calculators are effective and safe in prandial insulin calculation with a positive impact on glucose profile.