Beta cell function after intensive subcutaneous insulin therapy or intravenous insulin infusion at onset of type 1 diabetes in children without ketoacidosis

摘要

Background Our aim was to see if IV insulin therapy at diagnosis preserves beta‐cell function better than multiple subcutaneous (SC) injections. Methods Fifty‐four children 9.9 ± 3.5 years (range 2.8‐14.9) without ketoacidosis were included in a 2 years, randomized multicenter study with insulin SC or 48 to 72 hours IV initially. Thirty‐three (61%) were boys, 22 (41%) were pubertal. Forty‐eight subjects completed 12 months follow‐up and 43 completed 24 months. At 1, 6, 12, and 24 months, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), C‐peptide and insulin/kg/24 h were measured. At 24 months, a mixed‐meal tolerance test (MMTT) was performed. Results HbA1c at diagnosis was 10.7%, (93 mmol/mol) for IV, 10.7%, (94 mmol/mol) for SC. During the first 2 full days of insulin therapy, mean plasma glucose was 8.2 mmol/L for IV, 9.5 for SC ( P = .025). Mean insulin dose was 1.5 U/kg/d for IV vs 1.0 for SC ( P = .001). Sixteen (7 in IV, 9 in SC group) started with insulin pumps during the follow‐up. At 24 months, we saw no significant differences: HbA1c (7.5%, 58 mmol/mol, for IV, 7.2%, 55 mmol/mol, for SC; ns), insulin doses (0.79 vs 0.88 U/kg/d; ns), fasting C‐peptide (0.08 vs 0.12 nmol/L; ns), maximal MMTT response (0.19 vs 0.25 nmol/L; ns) and AUC (18.26 vs 23.9 nmol/L*min; ns). Peak C‐peptide 0.2 nmol/L in the combined IV and SC groups correlated significantly with HbA1c and C‐peptide at onset in a multiple regression. Conclusion Residual beta cell function at 2 years seems to be independent from initial insulin regimens but related to HbA1c and C‐peptide at onset.