New Study Finds Changes in Position of Conventional Insulin Pumps Can Cause Fluctuations in Insulin Delivery Rates

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ — A new study presented today at the Annual Meeting of the Diabetes Technology Society showed that changes in the position of a conventional insulin pump, relative to its infusion set, can significantly impact expected insulin delivery rates. Such changes may occur during routine daily activities such as getting dressed, sleeping or showering. This siphon effect has been reported previously in hospital IV pumps, but this is the first time it has been investigated in continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pumps.

"Insulin pump therapy allows for precise control of insulin delivery for patients with type 1 diabetes. However, in this study, we saw that a conventional pump's insulin delivery rate can fluctuate significantly due to changes in the pump's height relative to its infusion set and the end of the tubing. This can increase blood glucose variability, which previous research has shown to be a risk factor for the progression of complications of diabetes," said lead investigator Howard Zisser, MD, Director of Clinical Research and Diabetes Technology at the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute in Santa Barbara, CA.

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