Age-specific characteristics of the basal insulin-rate for pediatric patients on CSII.

Objective: This study intends to analyse the basal insulin dosage for pediatric patients (0-18 years) with type 1 diabetes on insulin-pump therapy (CSII). Research design and methods: In a large German and Austrian prospectively documented data base (DPV) for children with diabetes, patients with CSII were identified. The documented basal rates from patients (0-18 years) were analysed and related to age, gender, duration of diabetes, body weight and type of insulin used in the pump. Data were evaluated for three age groups (0-6; >6-12; >12-18 years). Results: Complete data sets with documented hourly intervals of basal rate were available from 743 patients. Basal insulin dosage in the 3 age groups differed significantly (0-6 years 0.20IU/ kg body weight; >6-12 years 0.34IU/kg body weight; >12-18 years 0.41IU/kg body weight p<0.0001). The amount of basal insulin in 24 hours in each group correlates with body weight, age and duration of diabetes. The circadian distribution of the basal rate shows different profiles in each age group. Conclusion: Pediatric patients on CSII have age specific characteristics in total amount and circadian distribution of basal rates.