Management of third-trimester diabetic pregnancies with the use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy: a pilot study.

Six women with juvenile-onset diabetes were managed as outpatients during the third trimester of pregnancy with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy. Twenty-four-hour metabolic profiles for plasma glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and triglycerides were monitored prior to, 1 week, 5 weeks, and 10 weeks after initiation of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy and compared with the metabolic profiles of 10 normal (nondiabetic) pregnant women. Near-normal metabolic profiles were achieved in these patients after 5 weeks of therapy in this pilot study. Patient motivation, compliance, and understanding of their illness were crucial in achieving the therapeutic goals of normoglycemia.