Glycaemic control with modified intensive insulin injections (MII) using insulin pens and premixed insulin in children with type-1 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial

The objective of this study was to compare glycemic control and insulin dosage in children with type 1 diabetes treated by a modified intensified insulin therapy MII using insulin pens (and premixed and regular insulin) with those on conventional insulin therapy. This was a longitudinal, randomized controlled trial for 6 months or more. From a cohort of 125 children with previously diagnosed type-1 diabetes (more than a year after diagnosis) two groups were randomly selected Group AI (n=20) and Group B (n=20). Group AI children and 10 children with recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes (Group AII) were allocated to MII using regular insulin and premixed insulin (30/70 and 40/60 and 50/50). Group B patients continued their conventional insulin therapy for the whole period of the trial. The main outcome measures were glycemic control measured by mean blood glucose concentration and percentage of glycated haemoglobin and total daily insulin dose. Mean blood glucose concentrations before the three main meals, and at midnight, (148, 147, 179 and 127 mg/dl, respectively) were lower in children receiving intensified MII compared with those receiving conventional insulin therapy (192, 174, 194 and 179 mg/dl, respectively) (standardized mean difference 34+/-15 mg/dl), equivalent to a difference of 1.9+/-0.8 mmol/l. This improved control during MII was achieved with no change in the average daily insulin dose in group-AI. In group-AII insulin dose decreased significantly during their first 6 moths of treatment (honeymooning). Glycemic control is better during MII using insulin pens and premixed and regular insulin compared with conventional insulin therapy, without any significant change in insulin dose needed to achieve this level of control. The difference in glycemic control between the two methods is significant and could reduce the risk of micro-vascular complications.