[Juvenile diabetes of recent onset. Sustained insulin remission by means of preprogrammed insulin infusion (author's transl)].

Seven young insulin-dependent diabetic patients were treated within 45 days at the latest from the onset of the disease by programmed insulin infusions delivered with an insulin pump. In every case normal serum glucose levels were obtained. At the end of each 84-hour infusion, an attempt was made to institute oral antidiabetic treatment. This was successful in 6 patients after 2 or 3 infusions and in one patient after 3 infusions followed by 2 months' conventional insulin therapy and a 4th infusion. In 5 patients (71%), oral treatment could be continued for more than 3 months, which indicates sustained remission of insulin-dependence. These results are comparable to those achieved with an artificial pancreas and can be explained by optimal diabetes control during the programmed infusions. The method has the advantages of being simple and relatively inexpensive.