That's Fit

The Food and Drug Administration has just published new research on the risks of insulin pump use in teenagers. News-wise this story was small potatoes, but if you're tuned into Type 1 (T1) diabetes you might have seen it. As a sister and daughter of two brothers and both parents with T1 diabetes, I couldn't miss it. My brother used to be an insulin pumper, but he nearly lost his life due to a pump-related skin infection and is back to the land of daily injections by needle.

The FDA reviewed a decade of reports from 1996-2005 involving adverse events and deaths in 12 to 21-year-old T1 diabetics utilizing insulin pumps. An alternative to multiple daily injections, the cell-phone sized pumps send a stream of needed insulin into the body through a plastic tube inserted under the skin. Many T1s realize better blood glucose control with pump therapy compared to daily injections.

Reviewers found 13 deaths and more than 1,500 injuries connected with the pumps. Sometimes the pumps malfunctioned (e.g., a blocked tube), others times the teens were at fault. Some dropped 'em -- teens are not exactly known for their rigorous care for gear -- just think of all those forgotten orthodontia retainers sliding off cafeteria lunch trays into the trash. Some teens simply did not know how to use the pumps correctly. FDA researchers called for parent vigilance in monitoring their children's use of the pump, as well as more research to examine pump safety concerns in teens and children. No doubt insulin pumps have improved the lives of many, but they require careful use and are no replacement for the diligent, daily monitoring of blood glucose required by people with T1 diabetes.

If you'd like to read about my brother's insulin pump nightmare, check out my recent post on Trusera. I have started blogging specifically about diabetes over at Trusera, an interactive health website for people seeking answers and a place to vent on health issues close to their hearts. Whether it's autism, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, infertility, lyme disease, migraines, Fragile X Syndrome or another condition, Trusera is a safe place to find stories, tell your story and connect with people facing similar health journeys.