The poor man's insulin "pump".

Twenty-five insulin-requiring patients whose diabetes was inadequately controlled on a conventional regimen of short- and intermediate-acting insulin given as two or more injections daily were changed to an alternative program in which approximately 40% to 50% of total insulin requirement was given in a single constant morning dose of ultralente insulin and the remainder in three varying doses of regular insulin, one 30 minutes before each meal. On the alternative program, control improved markedly in 23 of the 25 patients, as evidenced by lower fasting serum glucose concentrations and decreased glycosuria. Control was maintained in all 23 over a follow-up period of 2 to 61 months (mean 14 months).