Reduction of plasma cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol by continuous intravenous insulin infusion.

We studied lipid profiles in 10 patients with insulin-requiring type II diabetes. Patients began the study under conventional subcutaneous insulin injection therapy. Treatment was then optimized on subcutaneous therapy and finally converted to continuous intravenous therapy from a single flow rate implantable pump. Pump management proved reliable and safe. Implantable pump therapy showed a statistically significant reduction in the average plasma cholesterol level from 205.7 to 184.7 mg/dl. The mean low-density lipoproteins (LDL)-cholesterol level decreased from 114.6 to 108.1 mg/dl, the high-density lipoproteins (HDL)-cholesterol average changed from 50.6 to 51.0 mg/dl, and the HDL/LDL ratio increased from 0.478 to 0.500. Glycemic control did not improve on single-rate intravenous therapy compared with intensive conventional subcutaneous injection during the short observation period. The authors conclude that additional studies should be performed to confirm the improvement in the lipid profile on intravenous pump therapy.