Abstract

Establishing a good pump clinic:successes and challenges

Author(s): Natasa Bratina & Tadej Battelino

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting mainly young people. In the last few decades the incidence of Type 1 diabetes has been increasing worldwide by 3–4% per year. Data in many countries have shown that patients are being diagnosed at a younger age. The management of Type 1 diabetes is a challenge for patients, their families and for other caregivers. Insulin pumps and continuous glucose management systems are helping patients to improve their metabolic control. In many cases, good metabolic control cannot be reached for many years; the reasons can be socioeconomic or psychological, due to a lack of education, as well as refusal to control their diabetes themselves.