Johnson, S., Cooper, M., Jones, T., & Davis, E. (2013). Long-Term Outcome of Insulin Pump Therapy in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Assessed in a Large Population-Based Case-Control Study. Diabetologia, 1(1), 1-9.
Article’s Main Idea for Children
The article “Long-Term Outcome of Insulin Pump Therapy in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Assessed in a Large Population-Based Case-Control Study” describes how insulin pump therapy can be used to monitor hypoglycaemia, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and glycaemic control in children. After conducting the study for seven years, the researchers observed that insulin pump therapy was adequate towards managing with diabetes in children.
The collected data showed conclusively that “insulin pump therapy improved glycaemic control” (Johnson, Cooper, Jones, & Davis, 2013, p. 5). This improvement in glycaemic control was sustained throughout the study period. The most outstanding fact from this study is that it reflected a real life situation without the use of randomization or trials. Pump therapy played a significant role towards reducing severe hypoglycaemia.
The study indicated that “adolescents and children with poor glycaemic control can use the therapy to reduce HbA1c” (Johnson et al., 2013, p. 8). On the other hand, the use of injections based on duration of diabetes and age resulted in increased hypoglycaemia within the same study period. The rate of hospitalization for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was observed to reduce significantly in the pump therapy group.
The findings and discussions presented in the article can be beneficial to more diabetic children. Johnson et al. (2013) indicate that patients on insulin pump therapy record reduced levels of hypoglycaemia. The therapy increases the level of glycaemic control. This level of control also increases with the sustained use of the insulin pump therapy. Caregivers and guardians can use this therapy to improve HbA1c levels in different groups (McAdams & Rizvi, 2016).
The article also explains why caregivers should begin my assessing the targeted children in order to ensure they are suitable for the pump therapy. In order to produce positive results, caregivers and family members can offer patient education.
Past studies have indicated clearly that positive collaboration between practitioners and diabetes educators is something that can improve the level of disease management (McAdams & Rizvi, 2016). The use of insulin pump therapy is a new technological approach that increases the level of patient motivation. Individuals who “embrace the technique can successfuly manage the disease in the long-term and short-term” (McAdams & Rizvi, 2016, p. 12). The group using injection therapy was observed to record an increase in blood HbA1c. On the other hand, the individuals in the pump therapy recorded a positive trend towards effective disease management.
Past studies might have discouraged doctors from providing pump therapy to children with poor glycaemic control. However, this study has showed clearly that the therapy can result in positive health improvements in children with poor glycaemic control (Johnson et al., 2013). Individuals with poor glycaemic control tend to encounter numerous challenges and diabetic complications. This study has therefore indicated that such patients can benefit the most from the use of insulin pump therapy. This is the case because the therapy results in HbA1c reduction.
Several issues and health problems have been used to explain why insulin pump therapy can be useful towards supporting the needs of many diabetic patients. Some of these issues include recurrent and severe hypoglycaemia (Johnson et al., 2013). This is necessary because hypoglycaemia is a major challenge that makes it impossible for “diabetic patients to obtain optimal metabolic control” (Johnson et al., 2013, p. 7). Children with increased hypoglycaemia tend to have troubled lifestyles. That being the case, the quality of life can be improved through the use of insulin pump therapy (Heinemann, 2009). This can be useful for children who are affected by the fear of hypoglycaemia.
The reduction of hypoglycaemia is also closely linked to continued improvement in HbA1c (McAdams & Rizvi, 2016). This means that the pump therapy is more effective and appropriate than the use of injections. The study findings can therefore be examined and implemented in different healthcare settings and populations. The continued use of insulin therapy has the potential to help children with Type 1 Diabetes manage the condition.
The therapy has the ability to produce desirable results within the shortest time possible. As well, the results associated with the therapy are also maintained for a very long period. Proper diabetes education can therefore be combined with insulin pump therapy in order to produce quality health results (Heinemann, 2009). The findings presented in this article therefore explain why practitioners should embrace the power of insulin pump therapy (McAdams & Rizvi, 2016). The approach can support the health needs of many children with diabetes. As well, the therapy can be used to support more patient populations.
Concluding Remarks
The findings presented in this article show clearly that insulin pump can be beneficial for more children with Type 1 Diabetes. Johnson et al. (2013) indicate that “pump therapy has the potential to provide a sustained improvement in glycaemic control” (p. 8). The therapy also reduces cases of sever hypoglycaemia in both diabetic children and adults. Continued use of insulin pump therapy has also been observed to minimize cases of hospitalization and re-hospitalization for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This knowledge explains why communities and healthcare institutions should embrace the use of pump therapy. The approach will address the health challenges and needs of many children with Type 1 Diabetes.
Reference List
Heinemann, L. (2009). Insulin Pump Therapy: What Is the Evidence for Using Different Types of Boluses for Coverage of Prandial Insulin Requirements. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 3(6), 1490-1500.
Johnson, S., Cooper, M., Jones, T., & Davis, E. (2013). Long-Term Outcome of Insulin Pump Therapy in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Assessed in a Large Population-Based Case-Control Study. Diabetologia, 1(1), 1-9.
McAdams, B., & Rizvi, A. (2016). An Overview of Insulin Pumps and Glucose Sensors for the Generalist. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 5(5), 1-17.