Insulin and type I diabetics
Route of Insulin Administration Does Not Affect
Outcome in Diabetics
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WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Oct 02 - There are no
significant differences in glycemic control, reported
hypoglycemic events, or quality of life between type 1
diabetic patients treated with continuous subcutaneous
insulin infusion (CSII) and those treated with
multiple daily insulin injection (MDI), according to a
report in the October issue of Diabetes Care.
Dr. Bernard Zinman, of Mount Sinai Hospital in
Toronto, and colleagues conducted a randomized,
controlled trial of 27 type 1 diabetic patients who
received insulin lispro with a CSII (n = 13) or MDI (n
= 14) regimen. Glycemic control (HbA1c level) and
reported hypoglycemic events were measured monthly for
9 months. Quality of life was assessed at 9 months.
Patients in the CSII group had a mean HbA1c at
baseline of 7.73%, compared with 8.16% for patients in
the MDI group. Both groups of patients had significant
decreases in HbA1c levels at all time points, the team
explains.
Overall, the investigators "found no differences in
outcome between the two [treatment] groups in terms of
HbA1c levels, hypoglycemic events, or quality of life
measured using the Diabetes Quality of Life
questionnaire."
"The findings of our study indicate that the choice of
the method of intensive insulin therapy should be a
matter of personal preference," Dr. Zinman and
colleagues conclude. "It is important for all patients
with type 1 diabetes to have the option to select the
therapy that is most suitable for them."
Diabetes Care 2001;24:1722-1727.