Plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in type I diabetes mellitus.

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were measured in 10 insulin-dependent (Type I) diabetics taking their usual dose of conventionally administered insulin during 6 months of a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion delivered with a small, portable, battery-powered pump. With this insulin delivery system we were able to provide near normal glucoregulation 24 hours a day for the entire study. This improved glucoregulation resulted in significant reductions in total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride, and very low density and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels within 2 to 4 weeks of treatment. These changes persisted for the entire 6 months of observation. High density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels rose significantly after 2 months of treatment and continued to increase during the 6-month study. These changes in plasma lipid and lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in response to treatment with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion would favorably alter the predicted risk for the development of premature atherosclerosis in these patients.