Intensive insulin therapy by either insulin pump or MDI is safe in children and young adolescents with type 1 diabetes, with similar diabetes control and a very low rate of adverse events. We suggest that both modes be available to the diabetic team to better tailor therapy.

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion improves glycemic control in youth with type 1 diabetes, especially in those with a history of poor glycemic control. This improvement is associated with a decrease in the rate of severe hypoglycemia in the absence of weight gain.

ABSTRACT. Background. The use of insulin pumps is becoming a popular technique for insulin delivery among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), but there is no consensus regarding the guidelines for proper pump use during exercise.Objective. To investigate the physiologic responses and risk of hypoglycemia among children and adolescents with T1DM when exercising with the pump on (PO) (50% of the basal rate) or pump off (PF).Methods. Ten subjects with T1DM (6 female subjects and 4 male subjects), 10 to 19 years of age, performed prolonged exercise (40 -45 minutes) on a cycle ergometer ϳ2 hours after a standard breakfast and an insulin (Lispro) bolus. Complex carbohydrates (20 g) were provided before and after the exercise. Each patient exercised once with PO and once with PF, in a randomized, crossover (single-blind) manner. During exercise and 45 minutes of recovery, subjects were monitored for cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and hormonal responses. Blood glucose concentrations were recorded for 24 hours after exercise, with a continuous glucose monitoring system, to document late hypoglycemic events.Results. During exercise, blood glucose concentrations decreased by 59 ؎ 58 mg/dL (mean ؎ SD: 29 ؎ 24%) with PF and by 74 ؎ 51 mg/dL (35.5 ؎ 18%) with PO (not significant). No significant differences were found in cortisol, growth hormone, or noradrenaline levels between PO and PF. There were no differences in cardiorespiratory parameters, blood lactate concentrations, or free fatty acids concentrations between pump modes. Hypoglycemic events during exercise were asymptomatic and occurred for 2 subjects with PO and 2 with PF. Nine subjects had late hypoglycemia after PO, compared with 6 after PF (not significant).Conclusions. We found no advantage for subjects with either PO or PF during exercise, and we noted that late hypoglycemia was more common than hypoglycemia during exercise. However, PO was associated with a trend of increased risk for late hypoglycemia. We recommend that the pump be removed or turned off during prolonged exercise and that blood glucose concentrations be monitored for several hours after exercise, regardless of the pump mode.

Objective: To compare glycemic patterns by mode of therapy in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus using the Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS).Design: Open randomized crossover comparing 3 1 ⁄2 months of multiple daily injections (MDI) and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII).Setting: Tertiary care, university-affiliated medical center.Patients: Twenty-three children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Interventions:The CGMS was applied for 72 hours after 1 month and at the end of each study arm. Main Outcome Measures:Hemoglobin A 1c levels and glucose level profiles were compared between the 2 study arms and the 2 sensor applications for each arm.Results: The arms were similar for mean (SD) hemoglobin A 1c levels (CSII, 8.0% [0.8%]; and MDI, 8.2% [0.8%]) and glucose levels. Areas under the curve were significantly larger during MDI for nocturnal and 24-hour hypoglycemia (P=.01 and .04, respectively) and for postprandial hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia (P=.03 and .05, respectively). The rate of hyperglycemia increased during CSII (P =.03), but 24-hour duration and area under the curve for hyperglycemia were similar. Compared with the first CGMS reading in each arm, the second had a longer mean duration of postprandial withintarget glucose levels (P=.04), tendency for lower rate of diurnal hypoglycemic events (P=.1), shorter duration of nocturnal hypoglycemia (P=.05), and smaller 24-hour area under the curve for hypoglycemia (P =.04). Conclusions:Intensive treatment with CSII seemed to be associated with slightly better prebreakfast, postprandial, and within-target glucose profiles than MDI, as well as a smaller area under the curve for hypoglycemia. Lower hypoglycemia-related variables in the second sensor reading in each arm indicate that the CGMS may serve as an educational tool to decrease the rate and magnitude of hypoglycemia.

No abstract