The Ministry of Health will carry out the first study in the National Health System on efficiency and results of insulin pump therapy in patients with diabetes against those achieved with other types of treatments.

The Comprehensive Diabetes Plan of Andalusia has achieved more than 45,000 euros of financing, within the national call of the Carlos III Health Institute, for the project "Efficiency of continuous insulin infusion systems in type 1 diabetes".In this way, the research capacity of the Andalusian community in this area is revealed.

The project, which will have three years and in which different Andalusian health centers will participate, will allow evaluating the incidence of secondary complications, mortality, consumption of intra and extrahospital health resources and direct costs in the cohort of adolescent Andalusian patients andAdults with type 1 diabetes (DM1) who are treated with insulin pump.These results will be compared with those obtained in a control group treated with conventional therapy with multiple doses of insulin.

Almost 1,400 treated patients

The Comprehensive Diabetes Plan promoted, as of 2003, the treatment with continuous insulin infusion system or insulin pumps.At present, a total of 1,381 diabetes are treated with this therapy.This treatment is indicated in people with type 1 diabetes (DM1) with the following criteria: non -optimal metabolic control, frequent and/or serious hypoglycemiaprepares to wake up).

For the success of insulin pump therapy, adequate adhesion to the recommendations for self -control and treatment management, a high degree of motivation by the patient or their caregivers is indispensable and it is also necessary to complete a structured educational program.

From the Comprehensive Diabetes Plan, support is offered to patients who require this type of treatment to achieve the best results.The plan also has a specific record of patients treated with this therapy which makes it the only autonomous community with Catalonia.