Is insulin pump therapy better than injection for adolescents with diabetes?
OBJECTIVE
Insulin pump therapy is a commonly used alternative to multiple daily injections (MDI) in the treatment of pediatric type 1 diabetes. The aim of the current study was to examine whether there are different medical and psychosocial outcomes for adolescents using MDI versus pump therapy as experienced in a naturally occurring context of self- or doctor-chosen insulin regimens.


METHODS
Adolescents and their parents completed questionnaires assessing quality of life and parenting stress. A1C levels were obtained from the medical record.


RESULTS
Metabolic and psychosocial outcomes did not differ significantly between adolescents using pump therapy and adolescents using MDI. Higher parental stress was associated with older children, lower quality of life, and higher A1C levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians might present this information to families along with the potential advantages and disadvantages of pumps and injections.
Wu
Yelena P
YP
Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States. yelenawu@ku.edu
Graves
Montserrat M
MM
Roberts
Michael C
MC
Mitchell
Adela C
AC
D000293:Adolescent; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007267:Injections / Q000379:methods*; D007332:Insulin Infusion Systems; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents