Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion and Hypoglycemia
Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion and Hypoglycemia
Published: November 2009
One of the major limiting factors in achieving glycemic control is hypoglycemia.1 The causes of hypoglycemia are often multifactorial, but it is commonly caused by excess insulin administration due to either an overestimation in the dosing of insulin or active insulin stacking in patients with diabetes who require insulin.2 Other causes can include delayed gastric emptying due to gastroparesis, medication, exercise, or alcohol. Hypoglycemic episodes are common for patients with type 1 diabetes and those with advanced type 2 insulin-dependent diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, plasma glucose concentrations may be <50mg/dl for as much as 10% of the time.2 It has also been estimated that the average patient with diabetes can suffer up to two episodes of symptomatic hypoglycemia per week and one or more episodes of severe disabling hypoglycemia per year.2
Participants in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) who followed a regimen of intensive insulin therapy reduced their risk for microvascular complications such as retinopathy. Patients in the DCCT study who had a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level <7.5% experienced a threefold increased incidence in severe hypoglycemia.3 Therefore, optimal glucose control is often the result of a tenuous balancing act. Euglycemia and its maintenance are achieved by attempting to minimize hyperglycemia while simultaneously trying to avoid hypoglycemia.2 There is also a high economic cost associated with hypoglycemia. The relative cost of caring for one patient with hypoglycemia over a 12-month period has been estimated to be approximately $9,000 more expensive than caring for a patient without hypoglycemia.4
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Insulin Infusion, Hypoglycemia, Diabetes Control, Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, CSII,






