Impact of insulin pump therapy on glycemic control among adult Saudi type-1 diabetic patients. An interview-based case-control study

Context: Diabetes is associated with several potential preventable complications like the efficacy of insulin pump over multiple daily insulin injections (MDI) in glycemic control. Aims: To assess the outcomes of insulin pump as compared to insulin injection therapy. Setting and Design: Case-control study conducted among adult type-1 diabetic patients using insulin pump therapy and alternative insulin injection therapy from the University Diabetes Center (UDC), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during 1st June-30th October, 2017. Materials and Methods: Interview-based questionnaires were used on of 200 subjects using insulin therapy and control (conventional and MDI). Results of each were compared. Statistical Analysis Used: t- test was used for continuous variables and Chi-square test was used for categorical variables. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Patients on pump therapy showed a non-significant higher mean of hypoglycemic episodes per week and a lower mean of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) episodes per year as compared to the injection therapy patients 1.97 vs. 1.77 and 0.35 vs. 0.37, respectively. However, statistically significant differences were found between the pump and MDI, the pump and conventional, and the MDI and conventional when HbA1c levels were tested. Conclusion: Among adult patients with type-1 diabetes, insulin pump as compared to insulin injection was associated with better glycemic control. However, for acute complications, non-significant higher mean of hypoglycemic episodes per week and a lower mean of DKA episodes per year were reported in pump therapy as compared to the injection therapy patients.