Long-term continuous intraperitoneal insulin treatment in brittle diabetes.
Attempts to achieve a fair metabolic equilibrium in a young woman with brittle diabetes by continuous subcutaneous, intramuscular, and continuous intravenous administration of insulin were unsuccessful. Continuous intraperitoneal administration of insulin through a permanently inserted polyethylene catheter connected to an open-loop peristaltic pump led to an appreciable improvement in mean blood glucose concentration, mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions, and M value and to normalisation of intermediate metabolic products. The peritoneal catheter was well tolerated for over 120 days without appreciable adverse effects. This case suggests that long-term intraperitoneal administration of insulin is a feasible therapeutic approach in the management of brittle diabetes.
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007332:Insulin Infusion Systems; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin