Aim:

To study the problems encountered during the home insulin therapy for children with diabetes mellitus.

Methodology:

140 diabetic children on insulin at the diabetic clinic of the Institute if child health were analyzed for problems in therapy this descriptive study.

Results:

Of the 348 diabetic years of follow up the local complications were swelling, abscess and hypertrophy in 3.2 per 100 person years. Method of storage of insulin did not reveal any significant difference in the complications. 83% had good compliance to therapy. Recurrent DKA was 5.4 per 100 person years. All children were reusing insulin needles. Average use of a needle was 3.64 days. Infants had problems in dispensing the small doses.

Conclusions:

Home insulin therapy in our setup is safe with minimal problems. However we feel that we should reinforce the proper methods of storage and the technique of giving injections, now and then to the caretakers.

Conclusion:

The clinical presentation in children is different from that in adults with rapid progression and late diagnosis in children. There is also a significant increase in immune response with simple supportive measures.

Ooty Pedicon 2005 - Conference Abstracts.Pediatric Oncall [serial online] 2005 [cited 01 December 2005];2. Available from:
http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/Conference_abstracts/
home_insulin_therapy.asp