T. Logar Dolinšek
Klinični oddelek za endokrinologijo, diabetes in presnovne bolezni, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
I. Zupančič
Klinični oddelek za endokrinologijo, diabetes in presnovne bolezni, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
B. Murn Berkopec
Klinični oddelek za endokrinologijo, diabetes in presnovne bolezni, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
A. Gianini
Klinični oddelek za endokrinologijo, diabetes in presnovne bolezni, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
R. Kokalj Vrtarič
Klinični oddelek za endokrinologijo, diabetes in presnovne bolezni, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
N. Bratina
Klinični oddelek za endokrinologijo, diabetes in presnovne bolezni, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
T. Battelino
Klinični oddelek za endokrinologijo, diabetes in presnovne bolezni, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease that most commonly affects young people. The incidence of type 1 diabetes is increasing steadily, especially in toddlers up to the age of 6 years. The number of newly--diagnosed cases of type 1 diabetes in childhood has more than doubled in Slovenia in the last 20 years. Modern treatment of type 1 diabetes is extremely important. Only stabile glycaemia can help to prevent late complications of diabetes. Modern pen injectors and new insulin analogues are important, but insulin pump - continuous subcutaneous insulin treatment is becoming the leading treatment option in many developed countries. In 2000 insulin pump treatment was introduced at the University Children’s Hospital, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases. The number of pump users has risen sharply since that time to the present level of more than 75 % of the patients in our hospital. Pump treatment is started on the basis of various medical indications, which vary according to the age of the child. Our experience shows that pump treatment can easily be started in children above the age of 7 years, while in younger children success is dependent on involvement of the parents and other care givers, their education and motivation for that type of treatment. Good educational success is also a result of knowing the background history of the family, their level of education and financial possibilities. Individual education is also very effective.
Key words: diabetes type 1, insulin pump, children, adolescents, toddlers, insulin pump introduction, education.