Insulin pump therapy management in very young children with type 1 diabetes using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion

BACKGROUND: Compared to older children and adolescents very young patients with type 1 diabetes represent a unique population. We analyzed the age-dependent characteristics and parameters of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) in children under 6 years of age with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: We evaluated metabolic control and pump-dependent characteristics in 46 children with type 1 diabetes after 0.89 +/- 0.62 years of CSII. RESULTS: Metabolic control significantly improved after CSII initiation (glycosylated hemoglobin, 8.12 +/- 1.24% vs. 7.30 +/- 0.67%; P < 0.05), without increased risk for diabetic ketoacidosis or hypoglycemia. Interestingly, very young patients required bigger boluses than expected, especially in the morning and at the afternoon snack. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the need to personalize pump-dependent characteristics, especially in very young children with type 1 diabetes, in order to optimize CSII therapy in this unique age group of patients.