“I Think I Could Have Used It Better”: Experiences of Youth with High HbA1c Commencing Advanced Hybrid Closed‐Loop Therapy in a Clinical Trial Setting—A Qualitative Research

Abstract

Background. Advanced hybrid closed‐loop (AHCL) therapy improves glycemia. However, it is not known if there is an improvement in overall outcomes with AHCL for youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at high risk of diabetes‐related complications. The study aimed to capture the experiences of youth with suboptimal glycemic control when commencing AHCL therapy in a clinical trial setting. Methods. This was a singlecenter substudy of a multicenter 6‐month randomized clinical trial. Youth between 12 and 25 years of age on insulin pump therapy with HbA1c > 8.5% (> 69 mmol/mol) who commenced AHCL therapy with Medtronic MiniMed™ system were invited to participate in a semistructured interview after 6 months of AHCL. Open‐ended questions were used to explore the participants’ lived experience of AHCL in improving their glucose levels and its impact on diabetes management and well‐being. The interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results. Ten youth with T1D with a mean (SD) age of 17.4 (2.9) years, diabetes duration 10.7 (4.8) years, HbA1c 10.2 (0.8)%, or 87 (9.5) mmol/mol at enrollment participated in the interview. Three main themes were identified: (1) improved glycemia despite not using closed loop to its full potential; (2) persistent diabetes burden; and (3) a need for increased psychosocial and clinical support. Although improved glycemia was noted with AHCL therapy, participants reported ongoing motivation issues and used the system suboptimally. They continued to experience distress with overall diabetes management and acknowledged the need for ongoing support from family and health professionals. Conclusion. All participants reported overall satisfaction with improved glucose levels, however, the persistent diabetes burden impacted their ability to use AHCL optimally. The need for ongoing monitoring with support and interventions to enhance psychological care remains vital for youth with suboptimal diabetes management.