[Catheter occlusion during intraperitoneal infusion of insulin with implanted infusion devices]

Improvement in blood sugar control can be achieved, even in patients difficult to treat, using implantable insulin infusion devices for basal insulin infusion, together with one to two additional insulin injections. However, problems involving the insulin infusion route may arise, especially when insulin is infused intraperitoneally. Catheter adhesions and insulin precipitations can occur. Catheter blockages due to insulin aggregates can largely be avoided by the use of neutral sodium dihydrogen phosphate buffer. Insulin aggregations or precipitations are readily dissolved in vivo by alkaline buffer.