[Diabetes therapy with continuous insulin infusion by a portable pump: metabolic effects of short-term treatment and long-term results in problem patients].

In the present study the influence of a near normoglycemic state induced by continuous insulin infusion on various factors possibly involved in the pathophysiology of late diabetic complications was studied in 9 insulin-dependent diabetics. The application of a two-week continuous intravenous insulin infusion (CIVII) resulted in a normalisation of lipoprotein- and apolipoprotein fractions, whereas the in vivo platelet function remained unchanged. The low-T3-syndrome associated with an insufficient metabolic control in diabetics disappeared under the CIVII-treatment. The long-term effect of subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) administered by portable pumps was evaluated in 14 diabetic patients with different clinical problems or complications. Although the metabolic control and the daily life conditions improved significantly in these patients, nevertheless the pump treatment should be restricted at the present time to diabetics, who cannot be sufficiently controlled by conventional insulin therapy.