A New Development: Sensor-Augmented Insulin-Pump Therapy

Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems both are effective separately in adults with type 1 diabetes but not consistently effective in children. A new device that combines both technologies was evaluated in a study funded by the manufacturer; the investigative team included employees of the firm.

A total of 485 patients (roughly a third were children, age 7–18 years) with type 1 diabetes and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) levels of 7.4% to 9.5% were randomized to sensor-augmented pump or multiple daily insulin-injection therapy. At 1 year, the mean baseline HbA_1c level of 8.3% had dropped to 7.5% in the pump group and to 8.1% in the injection group — a significant difference. Twenty-seven percent of the pump group reached th…