EFFICACY OF INSULIN PUMP IN GLYCEMIC CONTROL AMONG PATIENTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of insulin pump administration in improving glycemic control in patients with Type 1 diabetes compared to management via multiple daily insulin injections (MDI). HgbA1c level was identified as the outcome measure of glycemic control. Patients were identified by the researcher via an electronic database of patients on insulin pump and MDI therapy who met the inclusion criteria. All patients with odd numbers assigned to them were selected for inclusion in this study. Thirty subjects on insulin pumps and 30 on MDI were selected for participation. Data were collected via chart review using a data collection tool developed by the researcher to collect information on the subjects’ age, gender, ethnicity, and age of onset of diabetes. HgbA1c level, body mass index (BMI) and total daily dose of insulin were also collected at baseline, as well as 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post insulin therapy. The baseline and post insulin therapy at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months allowed the researcher to evaluate the efficacy of insulin pump in improving glycemic control as compared to MDI. There was no statistically significantly difference between the two groups for age, gender, ethnicity, BMI, HgbA1c and total daily insulin doses. Several conclusions were reached. It was found that insulin pump and MDI have similar effects on glycemic control over a 24-month period of time. Further research of larger and more heterogeneous samples would be likely provide a better assessment of the efficacy of insulin pump therapy in comparison to MDI therapy