Insulin Pump Therapy Slashes Death Risk from Heart Disease by Nearly 50 Percent

People who use insulin pump therapy to manage type 1 diabetes have a nearly 50 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease than people who take insulin through daily injections, according to a new study published in The British Medical Journal.

The study included 18,168 patients with type 1 diabetes from Sweden. A total of 2,441 participants used insulin pump therapy while the rest used daily injections.

"There is a rationale for insulin pump treatment resulting in more stable blood glucose concentrations than multiple daily injections," said researcher Dr. Isabelle Steineck. ”Previous studies have shown that insulin pump can reduce the frequencies of severe hypoglycemic episodes. Severe hypoglycaemia can be a risk factor for cardiovascular events, particularly among high risk individuals.”

More convenient, more safe?

Insulin pump therapy may also be more safe in the long run as patients usually receive more extensive training for use, Steineck said.

Pumps are safe and effective, the researchers explained, and they may make managing diabetes easier on a daily basis.

Whether patients use a pump or daily injections, however, consistent glucose monitoring is still the main concern for both blood sugar control and overall heart health, the researchers concluded.

Source: University of Gothenburg
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