Benefits of Insulin Pump Therapy
(1) Pump Therapy Offers Proven Results.
Two landmark studies (the DCCT and the UKPDS) demonstrate that improving blood glucose control can reduce or prevent the complications of diabetes. In fact, intensive therapy achieved with multiple daily injections or an insulin pump has been shown to reduce the onset and progression of diabetes complications by up to 76%. It is clinically proven that ANY sustained lowering of blood glucose can reduce your risk.
(2) Pumps are preferred by Healthcare Professionals.
Studies in prominent medical journals (including the New England Journal of Medicine) show that intensive insulin therapy can help to minimize the long-term complications associated with diabetes. That's why most diabetes professionals who have diabetes prefer to use an insulin pump.
According to the 2003 Canadian Diabetes Association Clinical Practice Guidelines, "CSII (Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion -- also known as insulin pump therapy) is a safe and effective way of delivering intensive diabetes management in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, and can be initiated at any age... When used as a multidimensional approach to therapy, improvements in metabolic control may be acheived without increased risk of severe hypoglycemia."
DCCT - Diabetes Control and Complications Trial in Type 1 diabetes.
The
Diabetes Control and Complications Trial showed that intensive control of
diabetes, including keeping blood glucose levels as close to normal as
possible, significantly slows the onset and progression of major complications
related to diabetes. Compared with standard treatment, intensive management of
diabetes was shown to reduce the risk of development of: 1) Eye disease by
76%, 2) Kidney disease by 50%, 3) Nerve disease by 60%, 4) Cardiovascular and
peripheral vascular disease by 41%
UKPDS - United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study in Type 2 diabetes UKPDS.
The
UK Prospective Diabetes Study provided strong support that the vigorous
treatment of diabetes can decrease morbidity and mortality by decreasing its
complications.
The study documented that by keeping blood glucose levels (A1c) at or below 7%, risk of complications and their associated costs were greatly reduced.