Iwona Ben-Skowronek
Medical University in Lublin, Poland
Title: The insulin pump therapy – long-term outcome in children with type 1 diabetes
Biography:
Professor Iwona Ben-Skowronek is the endocrinologist, head of Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology in Medical University in Lublin. She is engaged in improving the health and wellbeing of children with endocrinology disorders. She is coauthor of neonatal screening tests model in Poland. Iwona Ben-Skowronek has built this model after years of experience in research, evaluation, teaching and administration both in hospital and university.
Abstract:
The growing popularity of type 1 diabetes (DM1) treatment based on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) raises a question of the group of patients that benefit most from the treatment. The greatest benefits from the treatment with CSII using an insulin pump were noted in type 1 diabetes children aged 1-5: the mean HbA1c decreased in these patients from 7,98% to 6,75% over 6 years. Slightly lesser outcomes were noted in the group of 6-10-year olds: the mean HbA1c value increased slightly from 7,6% before the CSII to 7,89% after 6 years of treatment. Somewhat worse outcomes were reported in the group of 11-15-year-old children: HbA1c increased from 8,05% to 8,72% . The lowest outcomes were found in the group of the 16-19-year-old patients, as HbA1c rose from 7,8% to 8,82% over 6 years. The children receiving the CSII treatment as early as in the first year of treatment exhibited better diabetes control (HbA1c 8,1 % declined after 6 years to do 7,1%, p<0,01) than patients who received CSII at an older age (HbA1c increased from 7,92% to 8,2%, p<0,01).Conclusions: The CSII on offers the greatest benefits for patients aged 1-5 and those with the treatment commenced in the first year after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.