HbA1c values and hospital admissions in children and adolescents receiving continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy

Aims: To assess HbA1c values and hospitalization rates before, during and after continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy.

Methods: Demographic and hospitalization data were extracted from 161 individuals with Type 1 diabetes who received continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy between 2002 and 2013 at the Leeds Children and Young People's Diabetes Service for those aged < 20 years. The median (range) age at CSII start was 11.9 (1.1–17.6) years. The median (range) follow‐up time was 2.3 (0–8.1) years. Random intercept models were used to compare HbA1c values before and during CSII initiation (and after CSII for those who discontinued it). Hospitalization rates were calculated for diabetic ketoacidosis and severe hypoglycaemia.

Results: The mean HbA1c concentration decreased by 7 mmol/mol [95% CI 6–8; 0.6% (95% CI 0.5–0.7)]. For the discontinued group (n=30), mean HbA1c decreased by 5 mmol/mol [95% CI 2–8; 0.4% (95% CI 0.2–0.7%)]. HbA1c returned to pre‐CSII start levels at the end of this therapy. Diabetic ketoacidosis admissions increased threefold during CSIIcompared with before CSII start [2.2 per 100 person‐years (95% CI 1.3 to 3.6) vs 7.4 per 100 person‐years (95% CI 5.1 to 10.8)] and was highest during the first year of CSII. No difference in severe hypoglycaemia incidence rate was found during CSII compared with the pre‐CSII period.

Conclusions: Despite significant reductions in HbA1c levels for individuals treated with CSII, improvements are needed to reduce diabetic ketoacidosis hospitalizations for those new to the therapy.