The Use of Insulin Pumps in Children - Literature review Example

The Cochrane Criterion was utilized in an effort to assess the methodological quality of the pieces of research and an attempt was made to critically assess research from various other perspectives, including sample size and population representation, sample gender, sample selection methods, inclusion and exclusion criteria, blinding and testing/measurement procedure etc. The results of the assessment tend to indicate that a need exists for further large sample longitudinal studies on the use of insulin pump therapy in children because current research is characterized by small samples.

However, nearly all studies agree that although the use of insulin pumps does appear to provide superior hypoglycemic control in users and a better fit for lifestyles as well as psychological uplift for the patient and caregivers, it is necessary to ensure that those who are considered for insulin pump therapy are capable of understanding and dealing with the pumps. Insulin pump technology has now advanced to an extent that the use of insulin pumps is risk-free, but despite this, the cost of the insulin pump remains the most significant deterrent for its more prolific use.

Diabetes mellitus refers to a condition which results in an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin in an individual and this leads to the body losing its ability to utilize carbohydrates as fuels (Nordfeldt, 2000, Pp. 10).  This condition occurs as a result of autoimmune attacks in pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin in the human body and it has been shown that insulin itself is a target in such attacks (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 2004, Pp. 7). When carbohydrates cannot be utilized by the body to provide energy, fats and proteins are used instead and glucose levels become elevated with glucose spilling into urine and the classic symptoms of diabetes present themselves as increased urination, constant thirst and frequent drinking of fluids.

If diabetes is left untreated, then dehydration and acidosis usually lead to coma and death. For an increasing number of young people with diabetes, there is no alternative but to treat a patient with insulin which has to be administered periodically. A deficiency of insulin usually leads to growth retardation, delayed puberty, irreversible long-term complications and a reduced life expectancy. Diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia and a serious long-term impact on various body organs.  Three types of diabetes have been found to exist and Type 1 diabetes results in the destruction of pancreatic beta cells which are responsible for the generation of insulin in humans and this means that an absolute deficiency of insulin exists (Cote, 2005, Pp. 1). Type 2 diabetes is characterized by a deficiency of insulin, while gestational diabetes presents itself during pregnancy, but disappears after birth. About 20.8 million children and adults, or 7 % of the population in the United States of America have diabetes and the figure for the United Kingdom is about 1.

8 million, or 3 % of the population. At a global level, there are up to 150 - 200 million people with Type 1 diabetes and there are 430,000 children under the age of 14 with the Type 1 disease (Diabetes UK, 2004, Pp. 9). Finland is the country with the highest prevalence of the Type 1 disease and the number of new cases that are being recorded all over the world is increasing annually.