Advantages of sensor‐augmented insulin pump therapy for pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the efficacy of sensor‐augmented pump (SAP) for improving obstetric and neonatal outcomes among pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus by comparing it with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion plus self‐monitoring of blood glucose (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion [CSII]/SMBG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 40 cases of pregnancy complicated by type 1 diabetes mellitus treated with SAP (SAP group), and 29 cases of pregnancy complicated by type 1 diabetes mellitus treated with CSII/SMBG (CSII/SMBG group). The obstetric and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The median of the glycoalbumin levels in the first (18.8% vs 20.9%; P < 0.05) and second (15.4% vs 18.0%; P < 0.05) trimesters, the hemoglobin A1c levels in the peripartum period (6.1% vs 6.5%; P < 0.05) and the standard deviation score of birthweights (0.36 vs 1.52; P < 0.05) were significantly lower in the SAP group than in the CSII/SMBG group. The incidence rate of large for gestational age newborns was significantly lower in the SAP group than in the CSII/SMBG group (27.5% vs 65.5%; P < 0.05). No significant differences in the incidence rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, small for gestational age, respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal hypoglycemia, hypervolemia and hyperbilirubinemia were observed between the groups. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that SAP therapy is more effective in preventing large for gestational age newborns in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus than CSII/SMBG.