Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy in Japan, 1984: a survey by questionnaires.

A country-wide survey of the continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy was carried out in the summer of 1984 in Japan. Questionnaires were mailed to doctors of 456 diabetes clinics and other questionnaires were distributed to patients taking CSII therapy by salesmen of the infusion pump makers. 275 doctors and 86 patients responded to the questionnaires. CSII therapy was conducted in 110 clinics (40%), but it was done mostly in inpatients. Decrease in blood glucose (91%) and improvement of general body condition (65%) were achieved by the therapy, but cutaneous complications, such as skin reaction to the tapes (33%), pigmentation (46%), induration (35%) and lipodystrophy, and hypoglycemic (83%) or ketoacidotic (16%) episodes were experienced in many cases. 211 doctors predicted bright prospects for the CSII therapy, 86 (41%) speculated a spread in the popularity of the therapy and 44 (21%) opined that the therapy was a passing phenomenon (only a fashion).