Insulin pumps are no better – but are more expensive – than injection devices for children in the first year after diagnosis with Type 1 Diabetes

Dr Colin Ridyard and Professor Dyfrig Hughes from the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation (CHEME) led the health economic analysis of a recently published study investigating whether insulin administered using infusion pumps was more effective and cost-effective than using injections in babies, children and young people who had just been diagnosed with type I diabetes.

The clinical trial, funded by the National Institute for Health Research and led by Dr Joanne Blair from Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, found that children’s blood glucose control when treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion was no better when compared to multiple injections. However, infusion pumps were more costly at an extra £1,863 per patient per year, meaning that during the first year of treatment, the routine use of infusion pumps is not advised for the NHS.

CHEME is part of the Bangor Institute for Health and Medical Research (BIHMR) in the School of Health Sciences. The study is available via the following link: https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/hta/hta22420/#/abstract

Publication date: 13 September 2018