Selected aspects of insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring in real time (in relation to the letter of E.D.Gorbachev)

Abstract

This article is the answer to the letter sent by Gorbachev to the editor. It deals with problems and difficulties encountered by diabetic patients using insulin pumpsand systems for continuous glucose monitoring in real time are considered. Most of them are of purely technical character and may be reduced to a minimum bycompliance with medical advice. Nevertheless, it needs to be emphasized that insulin pump therapy implies a scope of immediate knowledge and imposes requirementson the users health self-care behaviour. Those patients who forget about diabetes relying on the effect of insulin pump therapy alone are unlikely to benefit fromit. This therapy provides a high-technology tool for the treatment of diabetes that may help the majority of patients to achieve almost ideal compensation of carbohydratemetabolism, but it requires specialized education. Many patients have very poor knowledge of insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring in real time.