Efficacy of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in Type 1 diabetes: a 2-year perspective using the established criteria for funding from a National Health Service

Aim To determine the 2‐year efficacy of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) following the current established criteria for funding of a National Health Service. Methods Longitudinal, prospective, observational unicentre study. Included in the study were 153 Type 1 diabetes (T1D) subjects, previously treated with multiple daily injections (MDI) of insulin, in whom CSII was started in accordance with the criteria for reimbursement of the Catalan National Health Service. At baseline, we recorded data on age, gender, duration of the disease, body mass index (BMI), insulin dose and indications for CSII. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and the frequency of hypoglycaemic events were used to assess glycaemic control. Quality of life was assessed using three different self‐report questionnaires. After 24 months, these same items were remeasured in all subjects. Serious adverse events and injection‐site complications were also recorded. Results In 96% of subjects, CSII indication included less than optimal glycaemic control using MDI. HbA1c fell from 7.9 ± 1.3 to 7.3 ± 1.1% (P ≤ 0.001) after 24 months of CSII. Insulin requirements were significantly lower at the end of follow‐up (0.55 ± 0.21 U/kg body weight) in comparison with before use of CSII (0.70 ± 0.20, P ≤ 0.001). BMI increased from 24.0 ± 3.1 to 24.4 ± 3.2 kg/m2 after 24 months (P ≤ 0.025). The rate of episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis per year remained unchanged. Mild and severe hypoglycaemic episodes were significantly reduced. The scores in all subsets of the Diabetes Quality‐of‐Life (DQoL) questionnaire significantly improved after 24 months of CSII. Conclusions CSII, commenced according to the criteria for a nationally funded clinical programme, improves glycaemic control and quality‐of‐life outcomes with fewer hypoglycaemic episodes in T1D subjects previously conventionally treated with MDI.