External and implantable insulin pumps: current place in the treatment of diabetes.

External insulin infusion (CSII) pumps have regained interest since DCCT, the number of patients approaching 100,000 in the USA. Only 2 manufacturers (Minimed, Disetronic) and 2 insulins (lispro, insuman) are sharing the market. The major advantages over multiple s.c. injections (MDI) are a reduction of nightly instability and hypoglycemia, and time flexibility. Patients poorly controlled under MDI and/or with recurrent hypoglycemias thus represent the best indications. Pumps are predicted to expand in some european countries e.g. France with changes in reimbursement regulations. Implantable insulin pumps are still not commercialized except in few countries e.g. France. Therefore only 1065 pumps have been implanted worldwide so far. The only material available is the Minimed 2007 pump, with the Aventis Genapol insulin. The catheter is intraperitoneal for portal insulin absorption. Metabolic results are better than CSII in terms of glycemic fluctuations and hypoglycemias. Adverse events are limited to catheter obstructions (15% per patient-year). Ideally, indications should be restricted only to patients with recurrent severe hypoglycemias and/or poor control with CSII because of high cost of the pump ($ 15,000).