ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Since its introduction in the 1970s, insulin pump therapy became more and more recommended in patients with type 1 diabetes, in order to achieve and maintain an optimal glycemic control, by mimicking the physiological release of insulin through continuous infusion. The aim of our study was to determine the effectiveness of insulin pump therapy in improving the metabolic control in children with type 1 diabetes.

Patients and methods: A retrospective and descriptive study including children with type 1 diabetes treated with insulin pump therapy followed-up in the Department of Endocrinology-Diabetology-Nutrition of Mohammed-VI University Hospital Center of Oujda, in the eastern of Morocco, between 2017 and 2021. All patients received a clinical evaluation, capillary blood glucose monitoring and Hba1C testing. The statistical analysis was done by SPSS version 21.

Results: We collected 05 children with type 1 diabetes, followed up in our department. The mean age was 9,4 ± 4,7 years old, 4 girls and 1 boy. The duration of diabetes progression was less than 3 years for 60% of patients, with a mean duration of 5,6 years. No statural or ponderal abnormalities were noted. The mean Hba1C has decreased at 6months going from 7,4 ± 0,5 % to 7,2 ± 0,9. However, we noted that an increase at 12months by 0,4%. The frequency of hypoglycemia decreased from 7,8 ± 2,8 episodes/week to 1,5 ± 0,7 episodes/week at 6 months, and to 0,5 ± 0,7 episodes/week at 1 year. No severe hypoglycemia was noted during this period.

Discussion and conclusion: Insulin pump therapy appears to be reliable and effective when used appropriately, combined with intensive therapy education and continuous monitoring. The results of studies that have looked for a long term effect are conflicting; some of them have reported a metabolic control mainly in the first 6 months to one year. Our results showed that there was an improvement in glycemic control with pump therapy in children with type 1 diabetes followed-up for one year in our department.