Get Pumped!

Pumping Enhances Quality of Life

Jan Chait
Both short-term and long-term quality of life are improved in people with type 1 diabetes who use an insulin pump.

Researchers in Chico, California, conducted a Web-based survey based on the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial quality-of-life questionnaire. The survey asked subjects to compare their previous injection therapy with pump therapy.

Among the findings from the 561 respondents (92 percent of whom were from the United States):

• A1C levels decreased in 77 percent of the respondents, regardless of how long they’d been pumping.
• Satisfaction with diabetes care and management was significantly greater.
• Respondents were nearly always, “almost always” or “considerably satisfied” with their diabetes treatment since the initiation of pump therapy.
• Personal satisfaction was significantly improved.
• For 81 percent of the respondents, their diet had become more flexible.
• Hypoglycemic episodes were experienced only occasionally or seldom.
• Respondents reported that diabetes had less negative impact on their lives.
• Respondents felt less concern about becoming unconscious.

The researchers speculate that the short-term enhancement in quality of life might result from the effectiveness of insulin pump therapy, whereas long-term enhanced quality of life could stem from a decreased risk of complications because of the lower A1Cs.