Beneficial effects of flexible insulin therapy in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Acta diabetologica Vol. 40; no. 3; pp. 137 - 142
• Main Authors: ALEMZADEH, R, PALMA-SISTO, P, PARTON, E, TOTKA, J, KIRBY, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer International 01.09.2003; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Child; Child, Preschool; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - drug therapy; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Drug Administration Schedule; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin A - metabolism; Humans; Hypoglycemia - epidemiology; Hypoglycemia - prevention & control; Hypoglycemic Agents - administration & dosage; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Insulin - administration & dosage; Insulin - analogs & derivatives; Insulin - therapeutic use; Insulin Lispro; Insulin, Long-Acting - administration & dosage; Insulin, Long-Acting - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Puberty; Endocrinopathy; Human; Immunopathology; Autoimmune disease; Metabolic diseases; Hypoglycemia; Insulin; Flexible insulin; DCCT; Flexible; Treatment; Type 1 diabetes; Hemoglobin A1c; Adolescent; Child
• ISSN: 0940-5429; 1432-5233
• DOI: 10.1007/s00592-003-0102-2

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of a flexible multiple daily insulin (FMDI) regimen in routine pediatric diabetes care by comparing HbA(1c), body mass index (BMI), and episodes of severe hypoglycemia (SH) before and after initiation of FMDI therapy. Data from 44 patients (2-16 years old), on a conventional insulin (CI) regimen, were collected during quarterly diabetes clinic visits. These patients were transitioned from CI to FMDI regimen: pre-meal lispro (bolus) and once or twice daily Humulin Ultralente with or without bedtime Humulin NPH as the basal insulin. There was a significant improvement in HbA(1c) in prepubertal (9.3%+/-1.3% vs. 8.0%+/-1.1%, p<0.002) and pubertal subjects (9.2%+/-1.0% vs. 8.2%+/-0.9%, p<0.001). Pubertal subgroup demonstrated an increase in BMI (21.3+/-3.1 vs. 22.7+/-3.2 kg/m(2), p<0.0001) after one year. The rate of SH was decreased in both prepubertal ( p<0.01) and pubertal ( p<0.05) groups of patients on FMDI therapy. The use of FMDI in a general pediatric diabetic population is a feasible therapeutic option for maintenance and possible improvement of glycemic control. It may effectively decrease the HbA(1c), and reduce hypoglycemic episodes, without producing an abnormal increase in BMI.