Insulin Pump Vs Injection: Which Has Lower Mortality Rate?

In patients with type 1 diabetes, the use of an insulin pump is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular death, compared to those who take multiple daily insulin injections, according to a recent study.

In order to explore the long-term effects of insulin pump therapy on cardiovascular mortality, researchers conducted an observational study of 18,168 individuals with type 1 diabetes, 2441 of which used insulin pump therapy and 15,727 of which used multiple daily insulin injections.
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After a mean follow-up of 6.8 years, 1423 cases of cardiovascular disease had occurred.

Overall, insulin pump therapy was associated with a reduction of 45% for fatal coronary heart disease, 42% for fatal cardiovascular disease, and 27% for all cause mortality.

“Whether the results reflect the physiological consequences of insulin pump treatment, the clinical management that pump users receive, or the educational aspects of having the pump remains elusive,” they concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Steineck I, Cederholm J, Eliasson B, et al. Insulin pump therapy, multiple daily injections, and cardiovascular mortality in 18 168 people with type 1 diabetes: observational study. BMJ. 2015;350:h3234