USE OF INSULIN PUMP THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES AFTER FAILURE OF MULTIPLE DAILY INJECTIONS

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of insulin pump use (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion; CSII) in patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2) who have failed multiple daily injection (MDI) therapy. Methods: In this retrospective study, charts of patients with DM2 who were started on CSII after failure of MDI were reviewed. Patients were categorized as primarily manual (fixed) bolus users or calculated (using pump software) bolus users. The change in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), weight, and basal insulin dose from baseline to 6 months was determined. Results: Fifty-seven patients (20 men and 37 women) ranging in age from 13 to 71 were identified in the study. A significant reduction in HbA1c was observed from 8.75 to 7.69% (P<.001). There was an increase in body mass index (BMI) from a mean of 36.53 to a mean of 37.21. A decrease in basal insulin requirement per kilogram of weight (-0.10 U/kg) was noted (P = .03). Seven patients using U-500 insulin in the pump also had a significant decrease in HbA1C of 1.1 % (P<.001), along with a 0.071 U/kg drop in basal insulin requirements (P<.001). When comparing calculated bolus users to manual bolus users, there was no difference in HbA1C improvement (P = .58). Conclusion: We found that CSII improves glucose control in patients with DM2 who have failed MDI despite a decrease in overall insulin requirements. This includes patients with severe insulin resistance using U-500 insulin. Use of frequent bolus adjustment incorporating carbohydrate counting and current glucose level does not appear to be required for this benefit.