Glycemic control in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Comparison of outpatient intensified conventional therapy with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion

We compared glycemic control achieved on an outpatient basis with three insulin regimens in 10 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The regimens studied included: (1) intensified conventional therapy with twice-daily regular and lente insulin; (2) intensified conventional therapy with long-acting ultralente insulin plus multiple preprandial injections of regular insulin; (3) continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Each treatment period was two months long. At the beginning of the study and the close of each study period, patients were hospitalized for a 48-hour evaluation of glycemic control. Each new insulin regimen was begun after discharge, with the dosage adjusted using preplanned algorithms, patient self-monitoring of blood glucose and defined blood glucose targets. Glycemic control markedly improved on all three treatment regimens, to a comparable degree, as assessed by mean plasma glucose level, mean amplitude of glycemic excursions, M value (an index of glycemic lability), urinary glucose excretion and glycosylated hemoglobin level.