MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY FACTORS IMPORTANT FOR MAINTAINING INSULIN PUMP THERAPY.

A long term study (6 years) has been underway to investigate the efficacy of continuous intravenous insulin infusion from an implantable infusion device into Type I and Type II diabetics. The time period of flow that a patient may reasonably expect to achieve is currently being ascertained. In the University of Minnesota study, 42 pumps have been implanted into 33 patients, and over 100 patient-years of data have been accumulated. The last three pumps implanted experienced slowdown within 2 to 5 months of implantation. The authors conducted an investigation to identify factors in the patients and the pumps that may contribute to the cessation of flow from these implanted devices. Study methods and results are discussed.