Preservation of Pancreatic Beta Cell Function Through Insulin Pump Therapy
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Type I diabetes (T1DM) is the second most common chronic illness effecting children in the
USA. Worldwide, Type I diabetes is increasing in incidence, and its underlying etiology
remains elusive. Nevertheless, recent data supports the notion that early and intensive
management of Type I diabetes can 1) decrease long-term complications of diabetes; and 2) may
significantly improve beta cell function and insulin secretion over ensuing years. To this
end, we propose using insulin pump therapy to preserve and/or enhance residual endogenous
B-cell secretory capacity among patients with newly diagnosed Type 1 DM. Furthermore, we
anticipate that early use of an insulin pump will improve glycemic control beyond that
achieved with standard multiple daily injection (MDI) therapy, and will be well-tolerated by
the patient. These data will provide important pilot information to explore the potential
role of intensive insulin pump therapy in the treatment of children newly diagnosed with Type
I diabetes. The specific aim of this study is to test the following hypothesis: Early use of
insulin pump therapy is effective in preserving or enhancing residual endogenous pancreatic
B-cell secretory capacity among patients with newly diagnosed T1DM: Moreover, early use of an
insulin pump will improve glycemic control beyond that achieved with standard multiple
injection therapy, and will be well-tolerated by the patient.