Diabetes Care, Vol 11, Issue 1 46-51, Copyright © 1988 by American Diabetes Association
Factors related to discontinuation of continuous subcutaneous insulin-infusion therapy
TS Guinn, GJ Bailey and RS Mecklenburg
Section of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Virginia Mason Clinic, Seattle, WA 98111.
To determine the factors related to discontinuation of continuous
subcutaneous insulin-infusion (CSII) therapy in patients with
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, we analyzed clinical data from a group
of 177 patients followed for up to 5 yr. Fifty-one (29%) of the patients
made a decision to terminate CSII during the study. Of the clinical
characteristics present before the onset of treatment with an insulin pump,
the most important variable to predict a future decision to terminate CSII
was pregnancy, followed by female gender. In addition, there was a greater
percentage of smokers, single or divorced patients, and patients with a
history of treatment for mental illness in the dropout group, although none
of these differences was statistically significant. There was no
correlation between discontinuation of CSII and age, duration of diabetes,
or prepump concentrations of HbA1c. Events occurring during CSII were also
analyzed for predictive value. Patients who discontinued CSII had a higher
incidence of ketoacidosis and a lower incidence of hypoglycemic coma while
using a pump. The most common reason reported by patients for terminating
CSII therapy, cited by 24 (47%) of the 51, was discomfort, irritation, or
infection at the infusion site.