FLEXIBLE INTENSIVE INSULIN THERAPY: PRACTICAL MODALITIES AND METABOLIC IMPACT

Background: Flexible intensive insulin therapy (FIT) is a therapeutic method aimed at reproducing physiological insulin secretion as rigorously as possible. The purpose of this study was to highlight the practicalities of FIT in our department in order to assess its outcomes on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and severe hypoglycemia (SH) in baseline and after the follow-up of patients with type 1 diabetes.

Methods: Over a period of 6 years, we retrospectively involved patients with type 1 diabetes who participated in an educational program of FIT during a 5-day hospitalization at the Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Nutrition department of the Hassan II University Hospital in Fez. Our study series was followed up at 3-6 and 12months after FIT to determine its effects on metabolic parameters.

Results: The mean HbA1c decreased from 8.82% at baseline to 7.67% at follow-up in 3 months, 7.5% in 6 months to reach 7.16% in one year without increasing the risk of severe hypoglycemia. Indeed, the rate of hypoglycemia decreased significantly from 51.1% at baseline to 8.8% at follow-up (p = 0.011).

Conclusion: Our results underscore the value of FIT education in improving glycemic control while decreasing episodes of hypoglycemia and providing patients with a better quality of life.