Author(s): Bassam S. Bin-Abbas, Abdullah Al-Fares, Nadia A. Sakati, Abdullah A. Al-Ashwal
This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and effectiveness of CSII therapy in type 1 diabetic Saudi children and to compare it with multiple daily injection (MDI) of insulin. Intensive insulin therapy was initiated in 22 type 1 diabetic Saudi children. CSII was started in 14 children through insulin pump therapy between October 2002 and December 2004 and 8 patients were started on MDI, which included bedtime glargine (Lantus®) and premeal lispro (Humalog®) insulin injections between May 2004 and December 2004. The children on CSII and MDI therapy were followed for a mean duration of 12 months and 9 months respectively. There was a significant reduction in HbA1c and mean blood glucose level during CSII and MDI therapy compared with CI therapy, however the reduction in HbA1c among children on CSIItherapy was more significant in comparison to MDI therapy. Intensive insulin therapy by either CSII or MDI is efficacious in improving the glycemic control in type 1 diabetic Saudi children. CSII therapy had more favorable effect on HbA1c reduction than MDI therapy in this group of patients.