Insulin pump beats injections in study

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Medtronic Inc's insulin pump and monitoring device controlled blood glucose levels better than multiple daily injections in patients with type 1 diabetes, according to a large post-market study.

Adult and pediatric patients using the pump and continuous glucose monitoring device saw reductions in levels of hemoglobin (Hb)A1C that were four times greater than those who received regular insulin injections in the study of 485 patients ranging from age 7 to 70.

Patients in the study, which was presented at a meeting of the American Diabetes Association in Orlando, Florida, and sponsored by Medtronic, achieved better glucose control over a one-year period without an increase in hypoglycemia, or dangerously low blood sugar.

"What we've been able to show is that by combining this technology, you can lower the A1C, which reduces your risk of complications, and you can do it safely without increasing your rate of hypoglycemia," said study author Dr. Richard Bergenstal, executive director of the International Diabetes Center at Park Nicollet Health Services in Minneapolis.

Dr. Bergenstal said patients who are not achieving their goals with multiple daily injections should consider using a pump and sensor.

Diabetes association guidelines recommend that most people with diabetes maintain A1C levels of 7.0% or below. In the study, patients on pump therapy saw a reduction in average HbA1C levels of 0.8%, compared with a 0.2% average reduction for those who received multiple injections. HbA1C levels on average decreased to 7.5% from a baseline of 8.3% in the group on pump therapy, but decreased to just 8.1% in the group receiving multiple injections.

HbA1c DCCT%

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