Objective: This cross-sectional observational cohort study was designed to investigate i) whether glycaemic variability in paediatric patients with type 1 diabetes is lower in those using an insulin pump (CSII) compared with those using multiple daily insulin injections (MDI) and ii) whether urinary F2 -isoprostanes and/or urinary prostaglandin F2 excretion as surrogate marker of oxidative stress and cyclooxygenase activity are associated with glycaemic variability.
Methods: 48 paediatric patients with type 1 diabetes (22 using an insulin pump) underwent an ambulatory 3-day continuous glucose monitoring. All patients continued with normal daily activities and collected urine for two consecutive 24 h periods. The glucose pentagon was used to calculate the glycaemic risk parameter.
Results: Insulin requirements, HDL-cholesterol, the mean of glycaemic excursions (P < 0·01) and the standard deviation of mean glucose concentration (P < 0·05) were significantly lower in patients with CSII compared with those using MDI. By contrast, averaged HbA1c during the last twelve months as well as at the time of sensor insertion did not differ significantly between both groups. Summarizing characteristic parameter of acute and long-term metabolic control into the glucose pentagon revealed a significantly lower glycaemic risk parameter in CSI patients compared with both, healthy subjects and patients using MDI (P < 0·05).
Conclusions: Paediatric patients with type 1 diabetes using an insulin pump presented with lower glycaemic variability and a concomitantly lower glycaemic risk parameter compared with those using MDII. Whether these findings translate into a lower risk of diabetes associated cardiovascular complications remains to be elucidated.
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.