Insulin Delivery Technology for Treatment of Infants with Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Neonatal diabetes mellitus is a rare disorder of glucose metabolism with onset within the first 6 months of life. The initial treatment is based on insulin infusion. The technologies for diabetes treatment can be very helpful, even if guidelines are still lacking. The current study aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the literature about the safety and efficacy of insulin treatment with technology for diabetes to support clinicians in the management of infants with neonatal diabetes mellitus. A total of 22 papers were included, most of them case reports or case series. The first infants with neonatal diabetes mellitus treated with insulin pumps were described nearly two decades ago. Over the years, continuous glucose monitoring systems were added to treat these individuals, allowing for a better customization of insulin administration. Insulin was diluted in some cases to further minimize the doses. Improvement in technology for diabetes prompted clinicians to use new devices and algorithms for insulin delivery in infants with neonatal diabetes as well. These systems are safe and effective, may shorten hospital stay, and help clinicians weaning insulin during the remission phase in the transient forms or switching from insulin to sulfonylurea when suggested by the molecular diagnosis. New technologies for insulin delivery in infants with neonatal diabetes can be used safely and closed-loop algorithms can work properly in these situations, optimizing blood glucose control.