Sensor augmented pump therapy from onset of type 1 diabetes: late follow-up results of the Pediatric Onset Study

AIM: To evaluate the metabolic control and β-cell function 1 yr after the end of the European multicentre randomized Pediatric Onset Study. METHODS: Of 154 study patients, 131 were re-examined 24 months after type 1 diabetes onset (49.6% boys, age at onset 8.9 ± 4.3 yrs). Of which, 62 patients belonged to the primary group of the main study applying a sensor-augmented pump system during the first yr and 69 patients to the control group performing conventional insulin pump therapy with self-monitoring blood glucose. HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, and C-peptide were centrally measured (Clinical Trail Registration Number: ISRCTN05450731). RESULTS: At 24 months, i.e., 1 yr after the end of the interventional study, 52.4% of the patients used the sensor-augmented pump system, 46.0% conventional pump, and 1.6% multiple daily injections. HbA1c was 7.6 ± 1.3% in the primary and 7.7 ± 1.2% in the control group (p = 0.493). Frequent sensor use during the first yr was associated with statistically insignificant lowering of the HbA1c at 24 months (p = 0.236) as compared with irregular or no sensor use (7.4 ± 1.0% vs. 7.7 ± 1.3%). Although fasting C-peptide was not clearly different between the primary and control group (0.13 ± 0.17 vs. 0.09 ± 0.10 nmol/L, p = 0.121), patients with frequent sensor use had significantly less C-peptide loss within 24 months (C-peptide reduction 0.02 ± 0.18 vs. 0.07 ± 0.11 nmol/L, p = 0.046). There was no difference between the groups regarding daily insulin requirements. CONCLUSION: Sensor-augmented pump therapy from onset of diabetes may lead to better long-term glycemic control and help to preserve endogenous β-cell function, if patients comply with frequent use of continuous glucose monitoring.