Insulin Pump Dangers For Diabetics & Prescrition Drugs And Your Children

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7:00am Segment Info:
For many people with type-one diabetes, insulin pumps save them the pain of daily injections. But now a new study finds the pumps are linked to injuries and even death in teenagers. A 10-year review by the FDA found 13 deaths and more than 1,500 injuries connected with the pumps. Sometimes the device malfunctioned, but other times the teens were either careless or took risks. Two used the device to attempt suicide.

Are the pumps safe?

MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

They are. The problem does not seem to be with the pumps. The problem is with the children using them. Experts are recommending parents stay vigilant and watch their child's use of the pump. Insulin pumps are popular among teens because they're discreet. They're about the size of a cell phone and worn on a belt or pocket. They send insulin into the body through a plastic tube with a small tip that inserts under the skin.

In other news, psychiatric drug use is up among children.

It's up both here in the United States and in the UK. According to a new report American children take anti-psychotic medicines at about twice the rate of children in the united kingdom with nearly 4 out of every 10,000 kids in the UK taking them - compared to 7 out of 10,000 kids in the US. The most commonly used drugs were those that treat autism and hyperactivity.

So are American kids over treated? Or are kids in the UK under treated?

It's tough to know, but what's most interesting is that the use of these medications is on the rise in both countries. What's concerning is that there's little long-term safety data and experts are concerned that these medications are being over prescribed. Without a doubt these drugs are helpful when they're necessary. The real question is how necessary are they?