RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: To determine the efficacy and safety of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy in a group of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 17 patients were collected during the first year of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion treatment. All patients were followed-up at our diabetic pediatric clinic. HbA1c, body mass index, insulin dose, severe hypoglycemic episodes, and diabetic ketoacidosis events before and after initiation of pump therapy were compared. RESULTS: The mean age was 14.02 +/- 3.70 years and the mean diabetes duration was 5.81 +/- 3.31 years. HbA1c decreased from 8.12 +/- 1.46 to 7.52 +/- 0.87 % after 2 months of therapy and this decrease was maintained throughout the first year of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion treatment. Insulin dose decreased from 0.99 +/- 0.24 to 0.84 +/- 0.18 U/kg/day after 1 year of treatment. Body mass index remained unchanged. There were fewer severe hypoglycemic events after the start of insulin pump therapy (0.47 +/- 1.23 events/patient in the 6 months before continuous insulin infusion, 0.29 +/- 1.20 episodes in the first 6 months of insulin pump therapy and 0.06 +/- 0.24 in the period from 6 to 12 months of the treatment). There were 3 ketoacidosis episodes, all in the same patient. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion is a safe and effective alternative in the treatment of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. It improves metabolic control and decreases the number of severe hypoglycemic episodes.
