[A promising alternative for the treatment of type I diabetes. The implantable insulin pump].

Recent improvements in miniaturization of implantable pumps and the ability of their control by tele transmission allowed implantation of autonomous pumps which administer insulin into the peritoneal cavity. Fifty-six patients with diabetes mellitus underwent implantation of 66 pumps with a mean function life of 21.8 months per patient. No patient died to this day. Tolerance of implanted components was good. Morbidity was limited to local events, in this series 4 cutaneous erosions, two of them dictating final pump explantation. Dosages of mean global blood-sugar, pre- and post-prandial blood-sugar, and glycosylated hemoglobin were all lower versus dosages before implantation. Statistically significant difference was demonstrated regarding mean global blood-sugar. Frequency of sever hypoglycemia incidents (4 in our series) and of biological hypoglycemia (blood-sugar < 65 mg/100 ml) was decreased, representing major benefit of the technique. The patients well-being and quality of life were notably amended. Implantable insulin-pump may be offered as a treatment alternative to conventional insulin-therapy, especially in cases of diabetes which are difficult to balance and particularly in cases with frequent hypoglycemic malaise.