EFFECT OF PATIENT-SELECTED INTENSIVE INSULIN THERAPY ON QUALITY-OF-LIFE

The purpose of the study was to assess quality of life in patients wit h IDDM in relation to the type of insulin therapy. Two patient cohorts were studied. In cohort A, 77 patients deliberately intensified their traditional insulin injection therapy from up to two daily injections with syringe to multiple dairy injections with insulin-pen; in cohort B, 55 patients changed from intensive therapy with pen to insulin pum p-treatment (CSII). The therapeutic regimens were changed during a 5-d ay in-patient treatment and teaching course. The DCCT questionnaire wa s applied before and up to 6 months after changing of therapy. Treatme nt satisfaction increased after intensification of insulin therapy in both groups, mainly due to greater flexibility with leisure-time activ ities, and with the diet. Pump-users reported reduced problems with hy poglycemia (P <0.02). HbA1c indicating acceptable metabolic control al ready before the study, remained unchanged. Therapy-associated inconve nience, mainly in association with Lifestyle, improved in IDDM patient s deliberately intensifying their insulin therapy by pens or pumps (CS II). Pump-treatment, rather than pen-therapy, conferred particular pro tection from hypoglycaemia.