Insulin Pump Therapy In Children Research Articles

Efficacy and Safety of Insulin Pump Therapy in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) pump represents a treatment option that can aid in achieving an important goal to reduce the most frequent complications associated with treatment; hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes, which have also a great impact on life quality of patients. This study was conducted to report the effect and safety of insulin pump therapy on glycemic control, hypoglycemia and diabetic ketosis (DKA) rates in Libyan type 1 diabetic (T1D) patients. A descriptive and retrospective study which included patients treated and followed up at Tripoli University Hospital. Fifty-seven T1D patients used CSII pump enrolled in this study. Assessment of hypoglycemia, DKA, measuring the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) values at time of diagnosis (prior to CSII) and at time of study conduction. Mean age was 12.72 year ± 3.8 SD. Mean duration of diabetes was 7.28 years ± 3.9 SD. The baseline mean HbA1c was 8.58 ± 1.73% during Multiple Daily Injections (MDI) at pre-pump and 7.76 ± 1.33% post initiation of CSII (p = 0.001), with higher proportion of patient’s post-pump treated had good metabolic control with HbA1c compared to pre-pump infusion 23, 40.4% and 16, 28.1%, respectively. Both the incidence of ketoacidosis and severe hypoglycemic episodes was improved compared with MDI pre-pump significantly during CSII (P<0.001). This study supports that CSII is an effective alternative in managing T1DM. In addition, therapy with insulin pump in children with diabetes is very efficient and safe with obvious reduction of HbA1c and significantly diminished rates of DKA and hypoglycemia.

Outcomes and experiences of families with children with type 1 diabetes on insulin pumps through subsidised pump access programs in Western Australia.

In Australia, access to insulin pump therapy for children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is predominantly restricted to families with private health insurance. In an attempt to improve equity, additional subsidised pathways exist which provide pumps to families with reduced financial resources. We aimed to describe the outcomes and experiences of families with children commenced on pumps through these subsidised pathways in Western Australia (WA). Children with T1D in WA who did not have private health insurance and received pumps from the subsidised pump programs between January 2016 and December 2020 were included. Study 1 was designed to review glycaemic outcome. A retrospective analysis of HbA1c was conducted in the whole cohort and in children who commenced pump after the first year of diagnosis to exclude the impact of the partial clinical remission phase following diagnosis. HbA1c at baseline, and six, 12, 18 and 24 months after pump initiation were collected. Study 2 was designed to review experiences of families commenced on pumps through subsidised pathway. A questionnaire designed by the clinical team was distributed to parents via an online secure platform to capture their experiences. Of the 61 children with mean (SD) age 9.0 (4.9) years who commenced pump therapy through subsidised pump programs, 34 children commenced pump therapy after one year of diagnosis of T1D. The median (IQR) HbA1c (%) in 34 children at baseline was 8.3 (1.3), with no statistically significant change from baseline at six months [7.9 (1.4)], 12 months [8.0 (1.5)], 18 months [8.0 (1.3)] or 24 months [8.0 (1.3)]. The questionnaire response rate was 56%. 83% reported intention to continue pump therapy, however 58% of these families did not have avenue to acquire private health insurance. Families expressed inability to procure private health insurance due to low income and unreliable employment and remained largely unsure about the pathway to obtain the next pump. Children with T1D who commenced insulin pump therapy on subsidised pathways maintained glycaemic control for two years, and families favored pumps as a management option. However, financial limitations persist as a significant barrier to procure and continue pump therapy. Pathways for access need to be assessed and advocated.

Insulin pump accuracy at low and minimum delivery rates, in relation to paediatric diabetes care

Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes is increasing rapidly in children. The uptake of insulin pump therapy as a treatment method amongst the paediatric population is also increasing quickly, surpassing the rate of uptake in other groups. Studies have shown varied results regarding the safety of insulin pump therapy in children and adolescents. A study was conducted to determine if delivery accuracy of insulin pumps can potentially affect glycaemic outcomes in younger users. Three insulin pumps were tested: a low-cost prototype pump design, and two commercially available insulin pumps at basal rates of 0.025 U/h, 0.1 U/h and 1 U/h. Bolus accuracy was also tested at a range of bolus sizes between 0.025 U and 1 U. Testing was completed in accordance with IEC60601-2-24, with some modifications made to improve accuracy and ensure results are more generalisable to real-world insulin pump use. Results showed large inaccuracies at smaller dose sizes and potential for insulin pump accuracy errors to cause a clinically relevant shift in blood glucose values, especially at the smaller dose sizes and basal rates used by children and those sensitive to insulin. Further testing is needed with a wider range of commercial insulin pumps to determine if these errors are present in all devices.

Early versus delayed insulin pump therapy in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes: results from the multicentre, prospective diabetes follow-up DPV registry

Although continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy (ie, insulin pump therapy) is associated with improved metabolic control compared with multiple daily insulin injections in children with type 1 diabetes, it is unclear when it is best to start it after diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to compare the outcomes between early and delayed start of insulin pump therapy in young patients with type 1 diabetes. We based the current study on data from the multicentre, prospective diabetes follow-up registry (ie, Diabetes-Patienten-Verlaufsdokumentation [DPV]). The DPV registry comprises 501 diabetes centres from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. We included patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes between 2004 and 2014, who were aged between 6 months and 15 years at the time of diagnosis, who had started insulin pump therapy either within the first 6 months (ie, the early treatment group) or in the second to third year (ie, the delayed treatment group) after diabetes diagnosis, and who were treated with insulin pump therapy for at least 1 year. The outcome parameters included the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) values, the cardiovascular risk profile, and rates of acute complications and diabetes-associated hospital admissions (ie, hospitalisation) during the most recent documented treatment year with insulin pump therapy. Statistical models were adjusted for age at diabetes diagnosis, year of diagnosis, sex, immigrant background, use of continuous glucose monitoring, centre size, and the German Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation 2012 terciles. Our study sample comprised 8332 patients from 311 diabetes centres in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. The early treatment group consisted of 4004 (48·1%) of 8332 patients, and the delayed treatment group consisted of 4328 (51·9%). The median diabetes duration during follow-up was 6·7 years (IQR 5·1-8·7 in the early group; 5·0-8·7 in the delayed group) in both groups. Patients with early initiation of insulin pump therapy compared with those with delayed initiation of insulin pump therapy had significantly lower estimated mean HbA1c values (7·9% [95% CI 7·8-7·9] and 62·6 mmol/mol [95% CI 62·1-63·2] vs 8·0% [8·0-8·1] and 64·1 mmol/mol [63·6-64·6]; p=0·0006), and lower rates of hypoglycaemic coma (incidence risk ratio 0·44 [95% CI 0·24-0·79]; p=0·0064) and hospitalisation (0·86 [95% CI 0·78-0·94]; p=0·0016). A better cardiovascular risk profile was observed in patients with early initiation of insulin pump therapy than in those with delayed initiation: an estimated mean systolic blood pressure of 117·6 mm Hg (95% CI 117·2-117·9) versus 118·5 mm Hg (118·2-118·9), p=0·0007; and HDL cholesterol of 62·8 mg/dL (95% CI 62·2-63·5) versus 60·6 mg/dL (60·0-61·2), p<0·0001; however, diastolic blood pressure; concentrations of LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides; and estimated body-mass index standard deviation scores during follow-up did not differ significantly between both groups. Our findings provide evidence for improved clinical outcomes associated with the early initiation of insulin pump therapy in children with type 1 diabetes. The German Center for Diabetes Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung), German Robert Koch Institute, German Diabetes Association, and Diabetes Agenda 2010.

Psychosocial benefits of insulin pump therapy in children with diabetes type 1 and their families: The pumpkin multicenter randomized controlled trial

Objective Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is on the rise among pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Metabolic effects alone cannot explain this rising popularity. From the patient's perspective, the main benefits of CSII may be found in subjective psychosocial health outcomes (patient-reported outcomes [PRO]). Subjects and methods In a multicenter open randomized controlled trial, children and adolescents aged 6 to16 years currently treated with multiple daily injections (MDI) were randomized 1:1, stratified by center, to either starting with CSII immediately after the baseline interview or to continuing MDI while waiting 6 months for transmission to CSII. The primary outcomes were patient-reported diabetes-specific health-related quality of life (DHRQOL) and diabetes burden of the main caregiver. Secondary outcomes were caregiver stress, fear of hypoglycemia, satisfaction with treatment, and HbA1c. Results Two-hundred and eleven patients were randomized between February 2011 and October 2014, and 186 caregivers and 170 patients were analyzed using the intention-to-treat principle for primary outcomes. Children 8 to 11 years in the CSII group reported improved DHRQOL at follow-up compared to MDI (median difference [MD] 9.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.6-16.7, P = 0.004). There were no treatment differences in the adolescent age-group 12 to 16 years (MD 2.7; 95% CI -3.2-9.5; P = 0.353). The main caregivers of the CSII group reported a significant decline of overall diabetes burden at follow-up compared to the MDI group (MD 0; 95% CI -1-0; P = 0.029). Secondary PROs also were in favor of CSII. Conclusions CSII has substantial psychosocial benefits. PROs demonstrate these benefits. Registered as NCT01338922 at clinicaltrials.gov.

Assessing the efficacy, safety and utility of 6-month day-and-night automated closed-loop insulin delivery under free-living conditions compared with insulin pump therapy in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: an open-label, multicentre, multinational, single-period, randomised, parallel group study protocol

IntroductionClosed-loop systems titrate insulin based on sensor glucose levels, providing novel means to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia while improving glycaemic control. We will assess effectiveness of 6-month day-and-night closed-loop...

Insulin pump initiation and education for children and adolescents - a qualitative study of current practice in New Zealand.

Worldwide, the use of insulin pumps for the management of type 1 diabetes is increasing. There are no national or international published guidelines and few guidance recommendations detailing the education and training required to commence insulin pump therapy. The aim of this study is to describe current clinical practice regarding initiation of insulin pump therapy in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in New Zealand. Pediatric diabetes nurse specialists from selected New Zealand hospitals (n = 16) were identified and invited to participate in this qualitative study. For those consenting, structured interviews were conducted. The questions covered basic hospital demographics and various aspects of insulin pump initiation including pump start planning, education, and aspects of follow-up and after-care. The response rate was 100% (16 out of 16 hospitals). Diabetes clinics interviewed varied in size from 50 to 450 pediatric patients and frequency of insulin pump use from 11% - 46%. Clinical practice differed between clinics. Important differences related to: use of continuous glucose monitoring (12/16); and differing views on immediate vs. delayed use of pump advanced features. Location of pump starts also varied, with both in-patient (2/16) and out-patient (14/16) approaches seen. The motivations and beliefs relating to these various pump start approaches also varied. Differences seen between hospitals reflected team preference, and possibly a lack of consensus/guidance from the medical literature. Lessons may be learnt and further rationalisation and improvement in education remains possible by combining and adopting strengths from different hospitals.

Psychosocial benefits of insulin pump therapy in children with diabetes type 1 and their families: The pumpkin multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is on the rise among pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Metabolic effects alone cannot explain this rising popularity. From the patient's perspective, the main benefits of CSII may be found in subjective psychosocial health outcomes (patient-reported outcomes [PRO]). In a multicenter open randomized controlled trial, children and adolescents aged 6 to16 years currently treated with multiple daily injections (MDI) were randomized 1:1, stratified by center, to either starting with CSII immediately after the baseline interview or to continuing MDI while waiting 6 months for transmission to CSII. The primary outcomes were patient-reported diabetes-specific health-related quality of life (DHRQOL) and diabetes burden of the main caregiver. Secondary outcomes were caregiver stress, fear of hypoglycemia, satisfaction with treatment, and HbA1c. Two-hundred and eleven patients were randomized between February 2011 and October 2014, and 186 caregivers and 170 patients were analyzed using the intention-to-treat principle for primary outcomes. Children 8 to 11 years in the CSII group reported improved DHRQOL at follow-up compared to MDI (median difference [MD] 9.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.6-16.7, P = 0.004). There were no treatment differences in the adolescent age-group 12 to 16 years (MD 2.7; 95% CI -3.2-9.5; P = 0.353). The main caregivers of the CSII group reported a significant decline of overall diabetes burden at follow-up compared to the MDI group (MD 0; 95% CI -1-0; P = 0.029). Secondary PROs also were in favor of CSII. CSII has substantial psychosocial benefits. PROs demonstrate these benefits. Registered as NCT01338922 at clinicaltrials.gov.

Monitoring of insulin pump therapy in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus in the Russian Federation

Background. Insulin pump therapy in increasingly frequently used in the Russian Federation in recent years, which requires an evaluation of the treatment in order to improve its efficacy and safety.&#x0D; Objective — the study was aimed at complex monitoring (long-term efficacy and safety, state of medical care, factors associated with metabolic control, and factors hindering its use) of the continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) from various regions of the Russian Federation.&#x0D; Material and methods. Data of 395 DM1 children and adolescents from 60 regions of the Russian Federation were collected from the pediatric CSII register of the Endocrinology Research Center. The following data were analyzed in different age groups (0 to 7 years, 8 to 11 years, 12 to 17 years, and 18 to 25 years): glycemic control, the incidence of acute complications, discontinuation of CSII, characteristic features of blood glucose monitoring, and supplies coverage.&#x0D; Results. Initiation of CSII is accompanied by decrease in HbA1c level with the lowest values within the period from 6 to 24 months (–0.7±1.5% compared to the baseline level). However, 6 years after CSII initiation, HbA1c values do not differ significantly from the baseline values. The target HbA1c level (less than 7.5%) is observed in 43.6% of children aged 0 to 7 years, 32.7% of children aged 8 to 11 years, 24.2% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, and 28% of young adults aged 18 to 25 years. Regular self-monitoring of glycemia, 4 and more times per day, was performed by 83% of patients, while the frequency of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was low, 12.7% in the whole population. The incidence of acute complications in children and adolescents under 18 years did not differ significantly and the lowest incidence was observed in the age group 18 to 25 years. The effectiveness of CSII depended on the frequency of self-monitoring, CGM use, and supplies coverage. CSII discontinuation rate was 4.6 cases per 100 patient-years. The main reasons for discontinuation of CSII included the inconvenience of its use and the cost of supplies.&#x0D; Conclusions. Many children and the majority of adolescents with DM1, who use CSII, did not reach target HbA1c level despite the adequate self-monitoring. Many patients do not use CGM and refuse CSII. This necessitates the efforts to improve the efficacy and overcome barriers to the use of CGM and CSII.

Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.

Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.

Analiza wybranych czynników wpływających na przebieg terapii ciągłym podskórnym wlewem insuliny przy użyciu osobistych pomp insulinowych u dzieci i młodzieży

Analiza wybranych czynników wpływających na przebieg terapii ciągłym podskórnym wlewem insuliny przy użyciu osobistych pomp insulinowych u dzieci i młodzieży

Initiation of insulin pump therapy in children at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes resulted in improved long-term glycemic control.

Insulin pump therapy (IPT) is increasingly used in children and young people with type 1 diabetes. There are limited studies evaluating the optimal time to start IPT. The aim of this study was to determine if early initiation of IPT in children with type 1 diabetes leads to improved glycaemic control and quality of life (QOL) compared with the later introduction of IPT. There were 38 subjects in the early pump group (EPG) (age 12.6 + 4.9 yr, 23 male) and 37 in the later pump group (LPG) (age 13.1 + 4.1 yr, 19 male). Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), rate of severe hypoglycemia, and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) were collected retrospectively over a 48-month period. Eligible subjects and/or their parents completed both a Paediatric and Paediatric Diabetes-specific Quality of Life Inventory. HbA1c measurements were lower in the EPG (6.8%; 51 mmol/mol) compared to the LPG (7.9%; 63 mmol/mol), across the 48 months of the study (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the rate (per patient years) of severe hypoglycaemia (0.02; 0.07) p = 0.075 between the two groups. There were no episodes of DKA in either group. There was no significant difference in QOL between the groups with both having high satisfaction rates. Initiation of IPT at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children resulted in consistently lower HbA1c with no apparent change in hypoglycemia, DKA, or QOL.

Valuing technology: A qualitative interview study with physicians about insulin pump therapy for children with type 1 diabetes

Insulin pumps for children with type 1 diabetes have been broadly adopted despite equivocal evidence about comparative effectiveness. To understand why and inform policy related to public funding for new technologies, we explored how physicians interpret the value of pumps. We conducted open-ended, semi-structured interviews with 16 physicians from a pediatric diabetes network in Ontario, Canada, and analyzed the data using interpretive description. Respondents recognized that pumps fell short of expectations because they required hard work, as well as family and school support. Yet, pumps were valued for their status as new technologies and as a promising step in developing future technology. In addition, they were valued for their role within a therapeutic relationship, given the context of chronic childhood disease. These findings identify the types of beliefs that influence the adoption and diffusion of technologies. Some beliefs bear on hopes for new technology that may inappropriately hasten adoption, creating excess cost with little benefit. On the other hand, some beliefs identify potential benefits that are not captured in effectiveness studies, but may warrant consideration in resource allocation decisions. Still others suggest the need for remediation, such as those bearing on disparity in pump use by socioeconomic status. Understanding how technologies are valued can help stakeholders decide how to address such beliefs and expectations in funding decisions and implementation protocols.

Outpatient overnight glucose control with dual-hormone artificial pancreas, single-hormone artificial pancreas, or conventional insulin pump therapy in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: an open-label, randomised controlled trial

Additional benefits of the dual-hormone (insulin and glucagon) artificial pancreas compared with the single-hormone (insulin alone) artificial pancreas have not been assessed in young people in outpatient unrestricted conditions. We evaluated the efficacy of three systems for nocturnal glucose control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. We did a randomised, three-way, crossover trial in children aged 9-17 years with type 1 diabetes attending a diabetes camp in Canada. With use of sealed envelopes, children were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1:1:1:1 ratio with blocks of six to different sequences of the three interventions (single-hormone artificial pancreas, dual-hormone artificial pancreas, and conventional continuous subcutaneous insulin pump therapy). Each intervention was applied for 3 consecutive nights. Participants, study staff, and endpoint assessors were not masked. The primary outcome was the percentage of time spent with glucose concentrations lower than 4·0 mmol/L from 2300 h to 0700 h. Analysis was by intention to treat. A p value of less than 0·0167 was regarded as significant. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02189694. Between June 30, 2014, and Aug 9, 2014, we enrolled 33 children of mean age 13·3 years (SD 2·3; range 9-17). The time spent at a glucose concentration lower than 4·0 mmol/L was median 0% (IQR 0·0-2·4) during nights with the dual-hormone artificial pancreas, 3·1% (0·0-6·9) during nights with the single-hormone artificial pancreas (p=0·032), and 3·4% (0-11·0) during nights with conventional pump therapy (p=0·0048 compared with dual-hormone artificial pancreas and p=0·32 compared with single-hormone artificial pancreas). 15 hypoglycaemic events (<3·1 mmol/L for 20 min measured by sensor then confirmed with capillary glucose <4·0 mmol/L) were noted during nights with conventional pump therapy compared with four events with the single-hormone system and no events with the dual-hormone system. None of the assessed outcomes varied with the order in which children and young adults were assigned interventions. The dual-hormone artificial pancreas could improve nocturnal glucose control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Longer and larger outpatient studies are now needed. Canadian Diabetes Association, Fondation J A De Sève.

PO-0055 Insulin Pump In Children With Type 1 Diabetes In A Regional Hospital In Ireland

Introduction Initiation of insulin pump therapy in children with type 1 diabetes results in better glycaemic control, reduction in the short-term and long term complications and in better quality of life. Objectives To determine the impact of insulin pump on glycaemic control (HbA1c), BMI and occurrence of severe complications in children with IDDM in a secondary care centre. Methods A retrospective study of children with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy for at least one year at the time of the study was conducted. HbA1c, BMI and frequency of severe complications one year before and after introduction of insulin pump were compared. Results Twelve out of the thirty children (40%) on insulin pump therapy met our inclusion criteria. Their mean age at the time of the study was 12.6 years. Seven boys (58.3%) and five (42%) girls were studied. The mean duration of diabetes was 5.5 (±2.2) years. The mean HbA1c before the introduction of pump therapy was 8.1% vs. 7.1% one year after; while the mean BMI z-score was 0.79 before and 0.88 after. Severe hypoglycaemia and DKA were noted in two children before but none after the initiation of pump therapy. The mean HbA1c decreased by 0.4% at 3 months (p 0.05) and by 1% at 2 months (p 0.013) of pump therapy. Conclusions Initiation of insulin pump therapy results in significant reduction in the HbA1c within the first twelve months of therapy with a decrease in the frequency of occurrence of severe complications.

The Benefits of Insulin Pump Therapy in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

The management of type 1 diabetes (T1D) requires lifelong administration of insulin. The primary treatment goal of T1D in children and adolescents is maintaining euglycemic levels through intensive insulin therapy and avoiding complications while maintaining as normal a life as possible (Malik & Taplin, 2014). Effective insulin therapy should meet the needs, preferences, and resources of the individual and the family for optimal management of T1D. In 1993, the Diabetes Control & Complications Trial (DCCT) concluded that tight diabetes control reduces long-term complications (Nathan, Cleary, Backlund, et al., 2005).

Management of insulin pump therapy in children with type 1 diabetes

Insulin pump therapy is a current treatment option for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Insulin pumps can provide a greater flexibility in insulin administration and meal planning, as...

The evaluation of the long-term effect of insulin pump therapy in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

The evaluation of the long-term effect of insulin pump therapy in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Long-term outcome of insulin pump therapy in children with type 1 diabetes assessed in a large population-based case–control study

We determined the impact of insulin pump therapy on long-term glycaemic control, BMI, rate of severe hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children. Patients on pump therapy at a single paediatric tertiary hospital were matched to patients treated by injections on the basis of age, duration of diabetes and HbA1c at the time of pump start. HbA1c, anthropometric data, episodes of severe hypoglycaemia and rates of hospitalisation for DKA were collected prospectively. A total of 345 patients on pump therapy were matched to controls on injections. The mean age, duration of diabetes at pump start and length of follow-up were 11.4 (± 3.5), 4.1 (± 3.0) and 3.5 (± 2.5) years, respectively. The mean HbA1c reduction in the pump cohort was 0.6% (6.6 mmol/mol). This improved HbA1c remained significant throughout the 7 years of follow-up. Pump therapy reduced severe hypoglycaemia from 14.7 to 7.2 events per 100 patient-years (p < 0.001). In contrast, severe hypoglycaemia increased in the non-pump cohort over the same period from 6.8 to 10.2 events per 100 patient-years. The rate of hospitalisation for DKA was lower in the pump cohort (2.3 vs 4.7 per 100 patient-years, p = 0.003) over the 1,160 patient-years of follow-up. This is the longest and largest study of insulin pump use in children and demonstrates that pump therapy provides a sustained improvement in glycaemic control, and reductions of severe hypoglycaemia and hospitalisation for DKA compared with a matched cohort using injections.

A 7-year follow-up retrospective, international, multicenter study of insulin pump therapy in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

We evaluated the long-term glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes, using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) for at least 5 years in three diabetes centers from three different countries: Canada, Italy and Spain. This was an observational retrospective multicenter cohort study. Subjects were included if they were followed at one of the participating centers, had type 1 diabetes, age 5-20 years at time of data collection and used CSII for more than 5 years. Data collected included gender, age, disease duration, age at CSII initiation, body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin requirement and serious adverse events (SAE) at baseline and every 12 months during follow-up. One hundred fifteen patients were included in the study (55% males), aged 5-20 years (mean: 13.5 ± 3.8 years), with mean diabetes duration of 6.3 ± 3.4 years, using CSII for mean of 6.9 ± 1.2 years (range 5-12 years.). HbA1c significantly improved after 1 year of CSII treatment and during follow-up (p = 0.02). When HbA1c was compared between countries, a difference was observed, with slightly lower values in Italy than in Canada and Spain (p = 0.04). When evaluated by gender, HbA1c was similar at baseline, but significantly improved only in males during all follow-up (p = 0.004). No significant differences were observed for BMI, insulin requirement or SAE. Insulin pump therapy is safe and effective in the pediatric population, although in this study, the major benefit in HbA1c was seen in males. The use of advanced pump features was associated with greater improvement in HbA1c.