Treatment of Danish adolescent diabetic patients with CSII – a matched study to MDI

Objective:  To compare two intensified insulin therapy regimens – continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) against multiple daily insulin injection (MDI) – in Danish adolescents examined in a prospective, matched controlled study design.
Research design and methods:  Thirty type 1 diabetic adolescents at CSII and 26 matched MDI controls were included in this open intention-to-treat study. Actrapid was used in both groups. Before study entry, all participants followed a brush-up course in order to minimize study effect. At each visit, the following parameters were recorded: hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin dose, weight, number of hypoglycemic and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) events, and the time resources used. At entry and exit of the study, diet registration and validated quality-of-life (QoL) questionnaires were filled by the participants.
Results:  A non-significant decline in HbA1c was seen in both groups (p = 0.468); HbA1c decreased from 9.5 to 8.9% and from 9.7 to 9.5% in the CSII and MDI group, respectively. The insulin dose and the number of severe hypoglycemic events per patient were lower (non-significant) in the CSII group. Both groups showed increased body mass index – highest in the CSII group – and mild to moderate DKA episodes were only seen among CSII users. No differences could be demonstrated within the QoL or diet registrations.
Conclusions:  CSII treatment is beneficial as an intensified insulin therapy for selected type 1 diabetic patients and both MDI and CSII can be offered by the professional diabetes team to better tailor therapy. In future, there is a strong need to identify the characteristics of responders to CSII treatment in order to increase the efficacy and safety of CSII treatment.     

Insulin pumps in pediatric routine care improve long-term metabolic control without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia

Although continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) has been used in pediatric practice for >20 yr, the technique is not widely used in many countries. The aim of this non-randomized population-based study was to evaluate CSII in routine pediatric care. In a 1-yr cross-sectional evaluation, 27/89 patients (30.3%, age 7-21 yr) used pumps (two during the night only), the others 4-6 injections/day. In patients with >2 yr of diabetes, pump users had higher HbA1c (8.9+/-1.0 vs. 8.2+/-1.6%, p=0.04), less insulin/24 h (0.9+/-0.1 vs. 1.0+/-0.2 U/kg, p=0.002), and longer diabetes duration (p=0.02). The higher HbA1c is explained by 67% of pump patients having high HbA1c (>8.5%) as the major indication for CSII. The overall incidence of severe hypoglycemia was 31.5/100 patient years, 40.3 for injection therapy, and 11.1 for pump therapy (p=not significant). The incidence of severe hypoglycemia with unconsciousness was 12.9/100 patient years and with seizures 9.7 for injection therapy, whereas no children on pumps experienced these complications during the cross-sectional study year. We had no admissions for ketoacidosis in either group during this year. The pump patients were followed for 5 yr after pump start. Two stopped using the pump after 2 and 3 yr. For the patients with high HbA1c as indication, mean HbA1c the year before pump was 9.5%. Mean HbA1c during the first year with pump was lowered to 8.9% (p=0.019), the second year 8.6% (p=0.017), the third year 8.6 (p=0.012), the fourth year 8.7 (p=0.062), and the fifth year 8.9% (p=0.28). We found six cases of ketoacidosis corresponding to 4.7/100 patient years. In conclusion, we found a long-term lowering of HbA1c after starting CSII in a pediatric population, decreased frequency of severe hypoglycemia, and a low risk of ketoacidosis.     

Characteristics of glycemic control in young children with type 1 diabetes

Abtract: Background: The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) demonstrated that the rate-limiting step to the intensification of diabetes management in adolescents and adults was hypoglycemia. Young children were presumed to be at even greater risk for hypoglycemia with severe consequences, particularly if they had HbA1c levels < 8%.
Subjects: A retrospective chart review was performed on 148 patients with type 1 diabetes on insulin injection therapy who were < 8 yr of age (mean age 5.7 ± 1.5, mean diabetes duration 3.0 ± 1.4 yr) followed quarterly from July 1999 to June 2001.
Methods:  The subjects were divided into two groups based on their mean HbA1c values (< 8 vs. ≥ 8%) averaged over the 2-yr time period. The following variables were analyzed comparing the two groups: age, duration of diabetes, insulin dose, severe hypoglycemic episodes, episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), percentage of glucose levels above, within, and below the target range, and number of diabetes home-management competencies obtained.
Results:  Patients with HbA1c < 8% spent more time within target range (40.0 vs. 29.5%, p = 0.0001) and less time above their target range (36.9 vs. 51.2%, p = 0.0003). There was no difference in the percentage of glucose levels below target (23.2 vs. 19.4%, p = NS), percentage of severe hypoglycemic episodes (3 vs. 7 episodes per 100 patient-yr, p = NS), or episodes of DKA (1 vs. 3 episodes per 100 patient-yr, p = NS) between the two groups. Subjects with lower HbA1c levels had acquired more home-management competencies (4.0 vs. 3.5, p = 0.01).
Conclusions:  If families are competent in fundamental diabetes management, young children can achieve HbA1c levels < 8.0% without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia.     

Insulin pump use in young children in the T1D Exchange clinic registry is associated with lower hemoglobin A1c levels than injection therapy

Insulin delivery via injection and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) via insulin pump were compared in a cross‐sectional study (n = 669) and retrospective longitudinal study (n = 1904) of young children (<6 yr) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) participating in the T1D Exchange clinic registry. Use of CSII correlated with longer T1D duration (p < 0.001), higher parental education (p < 0.001), and annual household income (p < 0.006) but not with race/ethnicity. Wide variation in pump use was observed among T1D Exchange centers even after adjusting for these factors, suggesting that prescriber preference is a substantial determinant of CSII use. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was lower in pump vs. injection users (7.9 vs. 8.5%, adjusted p < 0.001) in the cross‐sectional study. In the longitudinal study, HbA1c decreased after initiation of CSII by 0.2%, on average (p < 0.001). Frequency of a severe hypoglycemia (SH) event did not differ in pump vs. injection users (p = 0.2). Frequency of ≥1 parent‐reported diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) event in the prior year was greater in pump users than injection users (10 vs. 8%, p = 0.04). No differences between pump and injection users were observed for clinic‐reported DKA events. Children below 6 yr have many unique metabolic characteristics, feeding behaviors, and care needs compared with older children and adolescents. These data support the use of insulin pumps in this youngest age group, and suggest that metabolic control may be improved without increasing the frequency of SH, but care should be taken as to the possibly increased risk of DKA.     

Sustained metabolic control and low rates of severe hypoglycaemic episodes in preschool diabetic children treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion

AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) in children under 7 years of age. METHODS: One hundred and ten children, aged 0.9-7 years, who had received CSII therapy for at least 6 months, were studied for 237 patient-years by a retrospective chart review. Charts were reviewed for glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), severe hypoglycaemia (SH), ketoacidosis (DKA), height, weight and insulin requirement. In 69 cases (children aged 1.6-7 years) CSII was administered after at least 3 months of insulin therapy with pens. In this group, data from the year from before CSII administration were compared with values recorded during 1 year of CSII treatment. RESULTS: Mean HbA1c decreased from 7.8 +/- 0.9 before CSII to 7.5 +/- 1.0 after 6 and 12 months of pump therapy (p = 0.04). In the whole group, the mean HbA1c after 6 months of CSII was 7.5 +/- 1.0 and remained unchanged for up to 4 years of follow-up. Some episodes of SH--4.2 per 100 patient-years, and DKA--5.7 per 100 patient-years were recorded. No increase in BMI z-score occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In the youngest children, CSII therapy lowers HbA1c values and provides sustained metabolic control without increases in hypoglycaemia or ketoacidosis episodes.     

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in toddlers and children with type 1 diabetes mellitus is safe and effective

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in toddlers and children. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Seventy children who began CSII at the age of 12 yr or younger (youngest 2 yr old) and who were maintained on CSII for at least 6 months were studied by a retrospective chart review. A pre- or postintervention comparison approach was used to assess the impact of CSII on the measured variables. The control period was defined as 1 yr prior to beginning CSII. Charts were reviewed for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) reports of severe hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), height and weight, and range of blood glucoses reported at each visit. Mean values for HbA1c, body mass index (BMI) z-score, and range of blood glucose were computed for each subject over all pre-CSII visits, and again over all post-CSII visits. RESULTS: The mean HbA1c decreased significantly during CSII [7.8 +/- 0.8% pre-CSII vs. 7.3 +/- 0.7% on CSII, p < 0.0001]. Hypoglycemic episodes decreased with CSII in the 10- to 12-yr-old group (p < 0.02) and demonstrated a strong trend (mean of 0.46-0.22 events per patient year, p < 0.06) overall. Two episodes of DKA occurred in the CSII period and none in the control period (p = NS). BMI z-scores increased to 0.21 in the 5- to 9-yr-age group (p < 0.008) and averaged 0.13 overall. The range of blood glucoses decreased during CSII (p < 0.005) in the middle and oldest age groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports CSII as a safe and effective alternative to managing T1DM, with no increase in hypoglycemia and a trend to improve control, even in the youngest patients.     

Effect of Carelink, an internet-based insulin pump monitoring system, on glycemic control in rural and urban children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Objective:  To determine whether use of the internet-based insulin pump monitoring system, Carelink, improved glycemic control in rural and urban children treated with insulin pump therapy.
Research design:  We reviewed records of 94 children treated with insulin pump therapy between the years 2004 and 2007 and compared glycemic control, diabetes self-care measures, frequency of clinic visits, and geographic location associated with Carelink use.
Results:  Carelink users showed improvement in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels [8.0 ± 0.1 (SE) vs. 7.7 ± 0.1 (SE), p = 0.002]. Carelink users uploaded pump and glucometer data 2.2 ± 1.8 (SD) times per month over 0.8 ± 0.4 (SD) yr. Patients who had no access to carelink software and were followed in a conventional manner showed no change in HbA1c levels [8.0 ± 0.2 (SE) vs. 8.1 ± 0.2 (SE), p = 0.17] during the study period. Carelink non-users, defined as patients who had Carelink access but did not use it, had a higher HbA1c level at the start of the study and did not change over the study period [8.9 ± 0.2 (SE) vs. 9.0 ± 0.3 (SE), p = 0.82]. Rural Carelink users showed improvement in HbA1c levels following Carelink use [7.9 ± 0.2 (SE) vs. 7.4 ± 0.2 (SE), p = 0.001], yet had significantly fewer clinic visits per year compared with urban patients [2.8 ± 0.2 (SE) vs. 3.5 ± 0.1 (SE), p = 0.001].
Conclusion:  Use of the Carelink system was associated with improved glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy.     

Treatment of Danish adolescent diabetic patients with CSII - a matched study to MDI.

OBJECTIVE: To compare two intensified insulin therapy regimens - continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) against multiple daily insulin injection (MDI) - in Danish adolescents examined in a prospective, matched controlled study design. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty type 1 diabetic adolescents at CSII and 26 matched MDI controls were included in this open intention-to-treat study. Actrapid was used in both groups. Before study entry, all participants followed a brush-up course in order to minimize study effect. At each visit, the following parameters were recorded: hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin dose, weight, number of hypoglycemic and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) events, and the time resources used. At entry and exit of the study, diet registration and validated quality-of-life (QoL) questionnaires were filled by the participants. RESULTS: A non-significant decline in HbA1c was seen in both groups (p = 0.468); HbA1c decreased from 9.5 to 8.9% and from 9.7 to 9.5% in the CSII and MDI group, respectively. The insulin dose and the number of severe hypoglycemic events per patient were lower (non-significant) in the CSII group. Both groups showed increased body mass index - highest in the CSII group - and mild to moderate DKA episodes were only seen among CSII users. No differences could be demonstrated within the QoL or diet registrations. CONCLUSIONS: CSII treatment is beneficial as an intensified insulin therapy for selected type 1 diabetic patients and both MDI and CSII can be offered by the professional diabetes team to better tailor therapy. In future, there is a strong need to identify the characteristics of responders to CSII treatment in order to increase the efficacy and safety of CSII treatment.     

Dermatological side effects and complications of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in preschool-age and school-age children

Objective:  The objective of this study was to evaluate whether very young children develop more dermatological complications during insulin pump treatment compared with school children.
Study design:  Cross-sectional study in 78 consecutive children using insulin pump treatment >4 months.
Results:  Children in group A [n = 40, 28 males (M) and 12 females (F)] were 2.3 ± 1.3 yr (±SD) and those in group B (n = 38, 13 M and 25 F) were 11.0 ± 2.9 yr old at the start of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). The mean duration of CSII was similar in both groups (23.6 ± 16.5 months in group A and 21.8 ± 16.1 in group B). The most common dermatological complications were scars <3 mm (50% in group A vs. 71% in group B, p < 0.05) and lipohypertrophic areas at the insertion sites (45% in group vs. 47% in group B). Local abscesses and blisters were rare findings in both groups (7.5–12%), none leading to interruption or stop of CSII.
Conclusions:  Dermatological side effects during CSII are not more frequent or severe in very young diabetic children compared with diabetic children in school age.     

Improved glycemic control and lower frequency of severe hypoglycemia with insulin detemir; long-term experience in 105 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Objective:  To assess the effect of the insulin analog detemir on glycemic control and severe hypoglycemia in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Research design and methods:  A retrospective chart analysis was performed in 105 patients with type 1 diabetes after switching to insulin detemir between 2004 and 2007. In children below 12 yr of age (n = 53), evening neutral protomin hagedorn (NPH) insulin was replaced by insulin detemir if therapeutic goals were not reached and blood glucose levels were unpredictable or hardly controllable. In adolescents above 12 yr of age (n = 52), insulin detemir was started when changing to intensified insulin therapy.
Results:  In children below 12 yr of age, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) at start was 8.3 ± 0.8% and after 12 months of treatment with insulin detemir significantly lowered (7.6 ± 0.6%, p < 0.001). In the age-group above 12 yr of age at the start of the study, the improvement of HbA1c after 12 months of treatment was less pronounced (8.0 ± 1.2 vs. 7.6 ± 1.0%) but still significant (p < 0.01). The risk for severe hypoglycemia was significantly decreased compared with patients attending the outpatient clinic between 1995 and 2003 (4.8/100 patient years vs. 7.6/100 patient years, p = 0.003). From the beginning to the end of the follow-up period, body mass index dropped significantly in children below 12 yr of age but no effect was observed in adolescents.
Conclusions:  Use of insulin detemir allows a safe nocturnal glycemic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and is associated with significantly improved HbA1c levels and fewer severe hypoglycemic events. This makes insulin detemir a most valuable new tool for the treatment of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.     

A randomized prospective study of insulin pump vs. insulin injection therapy in very young children with type 1 diabetes: 12-month glycemic, BMI, and neurocognitive outcomes

Objective:  To compare glycemic control, body mass index (BMI), neurocognitive function, and parenting stress for preschool-aged diabetic children randomized to treatment either with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) or with intensive insulin injection therapy (IIT).
Methods:  Children <5 yr of age diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus for at least 12 months were randomized to either CSII (n = 21) or IIT (n = 21) for 6 months. After 6 months, the IIT group began CSII therapy and the CSII group continued on pumps. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and BMI percent were collected at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Neurocognitive assessments (Developmental Test of Visual–Motor Integration and Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scale: Fourth Edition) were administered to children, and parenting and child behavior assessments (Parenting Stress Index and Child Behavior Checklist) were completed by parents and at baseline, 6, and 12 months.
Results:  Thirty-five children completed the study. Mean HbA1c decreased significantly over the study period (8.9% ± 0.6 vs. 8.5% ± 0.7, p = 0.006). Initiation of CSII resulted in an HbA1c decrease of 0.4% after 3 months (p = 0.002); however, in the CSII first group, the HbA1c at 12 months was not significantly different from study start (8.8% ± 0.6 vs. 8.5% ± 0.6; p = 0.4). There were no significant changes in BMI%, neurocognitive, parenting, and child behavior measures between groups.
Conclusion:  Initiation of CSII vs. continuing IIT does not significantly influence HbA1c, BMI, neurocognitive, or parenting stress parameters in a research study setting.     

Hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis with insulin pump therapy in children and adolescents

Abstract:  This review deals with the two most serious side effects encountered with insulin pump therapy, severe hypoglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Although clinical follow-up studies reported decreased rates of severe hypoglycemia, randomized studies have not confirmed this, showing no difference between the pump and injection groups. Less-severe hypoglycemia (mild/moderate/symptomatic hypoglycemia) was found to be more common with pump use. Some patients have inadvertently dosed or overdosed while awake or during sleep, causing fatal outcome in rare cases. Population-based or retrospective clinical studies reported a low rate of DKA in pump users that was still a higher rate than those using injection therapy, at least in some countries. In research settings and for patients with good compliance and adequate family support, the risk of DKA seems lower; many short-term studies report no DKA at all, possibly due to the increased attention given to participants. The use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) seems to decrease the risk in patients who had recurrent DKA before pump start. Most episodes of DKA occur early after pump start, suggesting a learning curve occurs in all new forms of treatment. Increased teaching and awareness programs are vital to prevent severe hypoglycemia and DKA in children and adolescents using insulin pumps.     

Insulin pump therapy in pediatrics: a therapeutic alternative to safely lower HbA1c levels across all age groups

Abstract: Objective: To examine the efficacy and safety of using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy in a large group of patients 18 months to 18 yr from a single pediatric diabetes program. Research design and methods: All patients ≤ 18 yr of age starting on CSII from 1 January 1997 to 31 March 2000 at the Yale Children's Diabetes Program were included. Clinical data were collected prospectively before and during pump treatment. HbA1c was the primary efficacy outcome and rates of diabetes‐related adverse events were the primary safety measures. Results: One hundred and sixty‐one children ranging in age from 18 months to 18 yr received CSII for an average of 32 ± 9 months when data collection was closed on 31 October 2001, including 26 preschoolers (< 7 yr), 76 school‐agers (7–11 yr) and 59 adolescents (12–18 yr). Mean HbA1c levels were 7.1% in the preschoolers, 7.8% in the school‐agers and 8.1% in the adolescents prior to the start of CSII. There was a significant and consistent reduction in mean HbA1c levels after 12 months of CSII (to 6.5% in preschoolers, 7.3% in school‐agers and 7.4% in adolescents, p < 0.02 vs. prepump) that was maintained at the most recent visit. Improved diabetes control was achieved with CSII without increasing daily insulin doses and in association with a decrease in the frequency of severe hypoglycemic events (p < 0.05 vs. prepump, all three age groups combined). Conclusions: CSII is an effective alternative to injection therapy in a large pediatric diabetes clinic setting. Even very young patients can utilize CSII to safely lower HbA1c levels.     

Multiple daily injections in young patients using the ezy-BICC bolus insulin calculation card, compared to mixed insulin and CSII

Objective: To describe the easy bolus insulin calculation card (ezy-BICC) approach to multiple daily injections and to compare in an observational study, the haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) achieved while using ezy-BICC, mixed insulin injections and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII).
Methods: HbA1c results from 7121 clinic visits by 573 patients aged 1–20 yr using the three methods between June 2000 and July 2008 were reviewed.
Results: For mixed insulin median, mean and SD HbA1c were 8.3%, 8.3%, 1.33, for ezy-BICC, 7.6%, 7.7%, 1.40, and for CSII, 7.6%, 7.8%, 1.31. HbA1c increases with age significantly more in those using CSII (p < 0.001). By regression, compared with mixed insulin HbA1c is 0.7% lower using ezy-BICC (p < 0.018) and 1.5% lower using CSII (p < 0.001). For patients using CSII compared with <6 yr, those 6–12 yr have HbA1c 0.7% higher (p < 0.001), 12–15 yr 1.0% higher (p < 0.001) and 15–20 yr 1.2% higher (p < 0.001). For subjects >12 yr, HbA1c is lower while using ezy-BICC than CSII. HbA1c increases 0.2% per yr following diagnosis for 2.8 yr. In those who change from mixed insulin to ezy-BICC after this time, the mean HbA1c is 0.5% lower by 9 months, 0.7% lower at 21 months and 0.6% lower at 24 months (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: The ezy-BICC system is inexpensive and convenient and allows patients to vary meal size. Subjects achieve lower HbA1c while using CSII and ezy-BICC MDI than with mixed insulin. Very young subjects achieve excellent HbA1c using CSII, but for 12 to 20 yr-old patients, ezy-BICC results in lower HbA1c than CSII for a lower cost.     

A cross-sectional international survey of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in 377 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus from 10 countries

OBJECTIVE: To document current practices using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) by downloading electronically the 90-d pump data held within the pump memory and relating that to clinical data from children and adolescents in different pediatric diabetes centers from Europe and Israel. METHODS: Data of patients (1-18 yr) treated with CSII in 23 centers from nine European countries and Israel were recorded with the encapture software (PEC International, Frankfurt, Germany). The number of patients who participated was 377 (48% female; mean diabetes duration +/- SD: 6.8 +/- 3.7 yr; age: 12.9 +/- 3.8 yr, preschool n = 33; prepubertal n = 95; adolescent n = 249; CSII duration: 1.6 +/- 1.2 yr; local HbA1c: 8.1 +/- 1.2%). RESULTS: The total insulin dose was lower than previously reported for injection therapy (0.79 +/- 0.20 U/kg/d). Covariance coefficient of daily total insulin was high in all age groups (adolescents 19 +/- 9%, prepubertal 18 +/- 8 and preschool 17 +/- 8). The distribution of basal insulin infusion rates over 24 hr (48 +/- 12% of total dose) varied significantly between centers and age groups. The number of boluses per day (7 +/- 3) was not significantly different between the age groups (average daily bolus amount: 0.42 +/- 0.16 U/kg). The rate of severe hypoglycemia (coma/convulsions) was 12.4 episodes per 100 patient-years and the number of diabetes-related hospital days was 124 per 100 patient-years. DISCUSSION: Pediatric CSII patients show a high variability in their insulin therapy. This relates both to age-dependent differences in the distribution of basal insulin as to the age-independent day-to-day variation in prandial insulin.     

Basal insulin and total daily insulin dose in children with type 1 diabetes using insulin pumps

Objective:  To assess the contribution of basal insulin to the total daily dose (CBITDD) and to identify the determinant factors in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Study design:  Cross-sectional study in which the basal insulin requirement was established based on a memory read-out of insulin delivery from pumps. Factors such as glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting C-peptide, standard deviation score of body mass index (sdsBMI) and demographic data were determined during routine hospital visits. Study group included a total of 90 well-controlled diabetic children with the mean HbA1c 6.6 ± 0.7 (5.2–7.9), age 10.4 ± 4.4 yr (1.1–17.9 yr), diabetes duration 3.0 ± 2.6 yr (0.3–10.9 yr) and sdsBMI 0.08 (−2.27 to 1.79), excluding patients with ketoacidosis or infectious diseases.
Results:  Correlations between CBITDD and age (r = 0.39 and p < 0.005) and diabetes duration (r = 0.61 and p < 0.0001) and an inverse correlation with C-peptide (r = −0.41 and p = 0.0001) were found. C-peptide-positive patients had a significantly lower percentage of basal insulin compared with C-peptide-negative patients (20.6 ± 11 vs. 31.6 ± 11.0%, respectively; p = 0.0004); yet, no significant difference in total insulin daily dose (0.65 ± 0.3 vs. 0.78 ± 0.2 U/kg/d, respectively) was observed.
Conclusions:  The percentage of basal insulin in diabetic children is below 50% and in well-controlled diabetic children is related to the fasting C-peptide level, age of patient and diabetes duration but not to HbA1c and sdsBMI.     

Young children (<5 yr) and adolescents (>12 yr) with type 1 diabetes mellitus have low rate of partial remission: diabetic ketoacidosis is an important risk factor

Objective:  To determine whether there are different rates of partial remission in preschool, school-age children, and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and to identify clinical characteristics that are associated with increased rate of partial remission.
Design/methods:  A total of 152 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed T1DM in 2004 were studied. Clinical characteristics at diagnosis, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), and total daily insulin dose (TDD) at 3-month interval follow-up for 1 yr were analyzed in each age-group (group 1, aged <5 yr; group 2, aged 5–12 yr; and group 3, aged >12 yr). Partial remission was defined as TDD <0.5 units/kg/d with HbA1C <8% assessed at 6 months after diagnosis.
Results:  Young children (group 1, 26.8%) and adolescents (group 3, 29%) had low rates of partial remission compared with school-age children (group 2, 56%, p = 0.002). There were no differences in the rates of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), autoantibody frequency, and HbA1C at diagnosis between age-groups. DKA at diagnosis was associated with less likelihood of having partial remission (p < 0.001). There were no associations between gender, autoantibodies, and HbA1C at diagnosis and the rate of partial remission.
Conclusions:  Young children and adolescent children with T1DM had a low rate of partial remission. Metabolic control was poorest in young children, whereas higher dose insulin in adolescents because of insulin resistance contributes to less likelihood of having partial remission. DKA at diagnosis was associated with low rate of partial remission. It is possible that the low frequency of honeymoon phase in young children reflects more aggressive beta-cell destruction in young children.     

The impact of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion on health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

AIM: To study the impact of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy on health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: 31 children and adolescents with poorly regulated type 1 diabetes (mean HbA1c 10.4%, SD 1.8), mean age 14.4 (1.5) y (range 9.7-17.1) and mean diabetes duration of 6.8 (3.2) y (range 1.3-14.6) were consecutively assigned to CSII therapy. Data for generic (CHQ-CF87) and diabetes-specific quality of life (DQOL) were obtained before initiating pump therapy and twice during 15 mo of treatment. HbA1c, BMI and episodes of severe hypoglycaemia and ketoacidosis were recorded over 15 mo prior to and 15 mo during pump therapy. RESULTS: Analysis showed improvements on the family activity scale (p=0.041) and change in health score (p=0.042) (CHQ-CF87). Mean HbA1c decreased from 10.4% (1.8) to 9.0% (0.9) after 3 mo, increasing to 9.6% (1.2) after 15 mo. The number of overweight and obese children increased from 4 and 2 before CSII, to 6 and 3 after 15 mo (IOTF criteria). There was a reduction in severe hypoglycaemia episodes from 43.8 to 5.2 per 100 patient years, but no change in ketoacidosis episodes. CONCLUSION: The degree of limitation experienced by families due to adolescents' general health and well-being was significantly reduced. Expected improvement in metabolic control and frequency of severe hypoglycaemia was observed.     

儿童1型糖尿病胰岛素泵治疗长期随访的疗效观察

目的 比较1型糖尿病(T1DM)患儿应用持续皮下胰岛素输注(CSII)与每日多次皮下胰岛素注射(MDI)治疗对血糖控制的疗效差异.方法 回顾性收集91例应用CSII方式治疗1年以上T1DM患儿的临床资料,评估其糖化血红蛋白(HbA1C)水平、糖尿病酮症酸中毒(DKA)再发生情况,通过与75例应用MDI治疗的T1DM患儿...     

Trends in diabetic ketoacidosis in childhood and adolescence: a 15-yr experience

Abstract: The number of episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a significant outcome measure for diabetes care. We ascertained patterns of admission due to DKA over 15 yr to determine whether this indicator of diabetes care had improved in parallel with clinical practices. Between 1 January 1985 and 31 December 1999, 630 admissions were reviewed. We subanalyzed these admissions according to whether the patient was newly diagnosed, had infrequent episodes of DKA (non-relapsers) or had frequent (≥ 2/yr) episodes of DKA (relapsers). Overall there was a slight downward trend in the incidence of DKA admissions over the study period. There was a proportionate increase in the incidence of DKA amongst newly diagnosed patients, with a proportionate decrease in the incidence of DKA seen in relapsers. DKA occurring in non-relapsers remained relatively stable. Adverse clinical events during the admission were relatively uncommon and occurred in all three subgroups. There was no significant difference in HbA1C prior to admission between the relapser and non-relapser groups and there was similarity in the degree of acidosis between all three subgroups. The frequency of significant complications associated with DKA remained unchanged over the study period. Slower rehydration policies were not associated with decreases in either cerebral edema or death rates. DKA remains a significant complication of type 1 diabetes associated with a variety of significant adverse events. Our experience indicates that further efforts to reduce the occurrence of DKA must be focused upon earlier diagnosis and intervention in newly diagnosed patients.