Systematic Reviews
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Pediatr. Nov 9, 2022; 11(6): 463-484
Published online Nov 9, 2022. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v11.i6.463
Insulin pumps in children - a systematic review
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Nermin Kamal Saeed, Adel Salah Bediwy, Reem Elbeltagi
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31511, Algharbia, Egypt
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center, King Abdulla Medical City, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 26671, Manama, Bahrain
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, Manama, Bahrain, Manama 26671, Manama, Bahrain
Nermin Kamal Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain, Manama 12, Manama, Bahrain
Nermin Kamal Saeed, Department of Microbiology, Irish Royal College of Surgeon, Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Adel Salah Bediwy, Department of Chest Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Alghrabia, Egypt
Adel Salah Bediwy, Department of Chest Disease, University Medical Center, King Abdulla Medical City, Arabian Gulf University, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, Manama 26671, Manama, Bahrain
Reem Elbeltagi, Department of Medicine, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Bahrain, Busiateen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Author contributions: Al-Biltagi M, Saeed NK, Bediwy AS, and Elbeltagi R collected the data and wrote and revised the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mohammed Al-Beltagi, MBChB, MD, MSc, PhD, Chairman, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Al Bahr Street, Tanta 31511, Algharbia, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com
Received: July 8, 2022
Peer-review started: July 8, 2022
First decision: August 1, 2022
Revised: August 2, 2022
Accepted: September 21, 2022
Article in press: September 21, 2022
Published online: November 9, 2022
Processing time: 121 Days and 19.7 Hours
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

The insulin pump is a giant breakthrough in diabetes mellitus (DM) treatment. Treating diabetes with an insulin pump is the method most similar to the normal physiologic function of the pancreas.

Research Motivation

We are motivated to write this manuscript to decrease the gap in understanding of insulin pump use among children health care professionals, parents, and children with diabetes mellitus who need intensive insulin therapy.

Research objectives

To identify all the existing evidence-based research for the proper use of insulin pumps among children with diabetes Mellitus and to increase awareness among these patients and their families.

Research Methods

We conducted comprehensive literature searches of electronic databases until June 30, 2022, related to pump therapy in children and published in the English language. The selected articles were subsequently explored to identify the most recent evidence-based research and existing guidelines for the proper use of insulin pumps in children.

Research Results

We identified 118 articles concerned with insulin pumps, 61 were reviews, systemic reviews, and meta-analyses, 47 were primary research studies with strong design, and ten were guidelines. These articles covered the different aspects of insulin pump use in children with diabetes mellitus.

Research conclusions

The insulin pump is a giant breakthrough in pediatric DM management. It provides fewer needles and can provide very tiny insulin doses with a convenient and flexible way to modify the needed insulin physiologically, like the human pancreas. It can offer adequate and optimal glycemic control to reduce the risk of metabolic derangements in different tissues.

Research perspectives

Continuous modification and upgrading of the insulin pump are expected to proceed. These modifications will probably help to make insulin pumps more physiologic and similar to the human pancreas.