Continuous intraperitoneal insulin infusion in the management of severely brittle diabetes--a metabolic and clinical comparison with intravenous infusion.

We report a comparison of continuous intraperitoneal insulin infusion (CIPII) and continuous intravenous insulin infusion (CIVII) in 6 diabetic patients in whom severe hyperglycaemia and ketoacidosis could not be prevented with subcutaneous or intramuscular insulin. In the short term both methods were equally effective in maintaining glycaemic control. Blood glucose, glycerol, and 3-hydroxybutyrate levels were normal but lactate and pyruvate levels remained elevated with both treatments. Insulin requirements were significantly lower on CIPII than CIVII (70 vs 113 U/day, p less than 0.01). Intraperitoneal insulin delivery was associated with near physiological peripheral plasma insulin profiles in 3 patients. In the longer term CIVII was associated with frequent septicaemia and thrombosis, and was successful in preventing hospitalization for 6 months or more in only one patient. Despite technical problems with CIPII complications were less serious and hospital admission due to metabolic decompensation was prevented for 6 months or more in 3 patients. When subcutaneous insulin delivery is unsuccessful in the management of brittle diabetes, CIPII should be considered rather than CIVII because it is more likely to be successful and less likely to cause serious complications.