Insulin Pumps for Teens Have Been Linked to Injuries and Deaths
Posted by
Jenny AlbanoMay 08, 2008 2:59 AMTags:
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A federal review from the FDA found that insulin pumps used by teenagers with Type 1 diabetes can be dangerous and have been linked to injuries and deaths.
Researchers from the FDA did not advise against teens using the devices, but said that parents should watch their children's use of the pumps while safety concerns are addressed.
The federal review of use by young people over a decade found 13 deaths and more than 1,500 injuries connected with the pumps. At times, the devices malfunctioned, but other times, teens were careless or took risks, the study authors wrote. Some teens didn't know how to use the pumps correctly, dropped them or didn't take good care of them. There were two possible suicide attempts by teens who gave themselves too much insulin, according to the analysis.
These pumps are popular because they allow teens to give themselves insulin discreetly in public and up to 100,000 teens may be using them. The pumps are used for Type 1 diabetes, which is also called juvenile diabetes.
The FDA study, which appears in the May issue of the Journal Pediatrics, reports injuries and deaths related to the pumps from 1996-2005. The report analyzed reports from patients 12 to 21 years old.
While some teenagers want to switch from insulin injections to pump therapy to gain more flexibility in their lives, doctors said device problems such as a blocked tube can lead quickly to dangerous episodes of high blood sugar.
Many doctors screen teens before prescribing a pump and some refuse refuse pumps to immature young patients. Teenagers need to be able to monitor their glucose or else the pump can increase the risk of getting sick more quickly compared to injections.