Insulin pump therapy management in very young children with type 1 diabetes using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion.
BACKGROUND
Compared to older children and adolescents very young patients with type 1 diabetes represent a unique population. We analyzed the age-dependent characteristics and parameters of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) in children under 6 years of age with type 1 diabetes.


METHODS
We evaluated metabolic control and pump-dependent characteristics in 46 children with type 1 diabetes after 0.89 +/- 0.62 years of CSII.


RESULTS
Metabolic control significantly improved after CSII initiation (glycosylated hemoglobin, 8.12 +/- 1.24% vs. 7.30 +/- 0.67%; P < 0.05), without increased risk for diabetic ketoacidosis or hypoglycemia. Interestingly, very young patients required bigger boluses than expected, especially in the morning and at the afternoon snack.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the need to personalize pump-dependent characteristics, especially in very young children with type 1 diabetes, in order to optimize CSII therapy in this unique age group of patients.
Rabbone
Ivana
I
Department of Paediatrics, University of Turin, Italy. ivana.rabbone@unito.it
Scaramuzza
Andrea
A
Bobbio
Adriana
A
Bonfanti
Riccardo
R
Iafusco
Dario
D
Lombardo
Fortunato
F
Toni
Sonia
S
Tumini
Stefano
S
Cerutti
Franco
F
D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007332:Insulin Infusion Systems / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin