ESPE Abstracts

Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their caregivers continue to face the challenge of maintaining blood glucose levels in the near-normal range, preventing sustained hyperglycemia associated with long-term microvascular and macrovascular complications, and avoiding recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia, especially at young ages when they can adversely affect cognitive function. In a follow-up to the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications study showed that achieving optimal metabolic control as early as possible in the course of the disease delays the onset of diabetes-related complications.

Over the past decade, continuous s.c. insulin infusion (CSII) has become a standard treatment option for patients with T1D. CSII mimics physiologic insulin release better than multiple daily injection (MDI) therapy and allows for greater flexibility in food intake and physical activity. These evident benefits raise the question ‘Does early initiation of CSII treatment in patients with T1D shortly after diabetes onset yield added benefit?’

The evidence regarding the impact of early CSII treatment initiation on glycemic control and β cell preservation will be discussed.