Pump article from German publication
Pfutzner A, Berger S, Spinas G
[Medline record in process]
Since the publication of the DCCT results, intensive insulin treatment,
including continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), has been
considered one of the best methods for near-normal insulin delivery. The
development of new, robust and easily programmable insulin pumps has led to
readier acceptance of this therapy by physicians and patients. In clinical
trials, CSII was found to be superior to multiple daily injection regimens in
many cases. Patients with unsatisfactory glucose control, frequent
hypoglycaemic events, and otherwise uncontrollable morning rises of blood
glucose may in particular benefit from insulin pump therapy. Glucose control
can even be improved in CSII if insulin lispro is used instead of regular
human insulin, as demonstrated in many clinical investigations. Possible side
effects of CSII are increased risk of ketoacidosis (e.g. in the case of
catheter occlusion) and side effects at the infusion site. Since the
successful development of devices for continuous glucose monitoring, the
development of closed-loop systems has become more and more the focus of
current clinical and technological research.