Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Treatment Center Are Associated with Insulin Pump Therapy in Youth in the First Year Following Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes

In pediatric diabetes, insulin pump therapy is associated with less acute complications but inpatient pump education may lead to more hospital days. We investigated the number of hospital days associated with pump vs. injection therapy between 2009 and 2018 in 48,756 patients with type 1 diabetes < 20 years of age from the German Diabetes Prospective Follow-up Registry (DPV). Analyses were performed separately for hospitalizations at diagnosis (hierarchical linear models adjusted for sex, age, and migration), and for hospitalizations in the subsequent course of the disease (hierarchical Poisson models stratified by sex, age, migration, and therapy switch). At diagnosis, the length of hospital stay was longer with pump therapy than with injection therapy (mean estimate with 95% CI: 13.6 [13.3–13.9] days vs. 12.8 [12.5–13.1] days, P < 0.0001), whereas during the whole follow-up beyond diagnosis, the number of hospital days per person-year (/PY) was higher with injection therapy than with pump therapy (4.4 [4.1–4.8] vs. 3.9 [3.6–4.2] days/PY), especially for children under 5 years of age (4.9 [4.4–5.6] vs. 3.5 [3.1–3.9] days/PY).Conclusions: Even in countries with hospitalizations at diabetes diagnosis of longer duration, the use of pump therapy is associated with a reduced number of hospital days in the long-term.What is known:• In pediatric diabetes, insulin pump therapy is associated with better glycemic control and less acute complications compared with injection therapy.• However, pump therapy implies more costs and resources for education and management.What is new:• Even in countries where pump education is predominantly given in an inpatient setting, the use of pump therapy is associated with a reduced number of hospital days in the long-term.• Lower rates of hospitalization due to acute complications during the course of the disease counterbalance longer hospitalizations due to initial pump education

Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.

IntroductionIn Australia, access to insulin pump therapy for children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is predominantly restricted to families with private health insurance. In an attempt to improve equity, additional subsidised pathways exist which provide pumps to families with reduced financial resources. We aimed to describe the outcomes and experiences of families with children commenced on pumps through these subsidised pathways in Western Australia (WA).MethodsChildren with T1D in WA who did not have private health insurance and received pumps from the subsidised pump programs between January 2016 and December 2020 were included. Study 1 was designed to review glycaemic outcome. A retrospective analysis of HbA1c was conducted in the whole cohort and in children who commenced pump after the first year of diagnosis to exclude the impact of the partial clinical remission phase following diagnosis. HbA1c at baseline, and six, 12, 18 and 24 months after pump initiation were collected. Study 2 was designed to review experiences of families commenced on pumps through subsidised pathway. A questionnaire designed by the clinical team was distributed to parents via an online secure platform to capture their experiences.ResultsOf the 61 children with mean (SD) age 9.0 (4.9) years who commenced pump therapy through subsidised pump programs, 34 children commenced pump therapy after one year of diagnosis of T1D. The median (IQR) HbA1c (%) in 34 children at baseline was 8.3 (1.3), with no statistically significant change from baseline at six months [7.9 (1.4)], 12 months [8.0 (1.5)], 18 months [8.0 (1.3)] or 24 months [8.0 (1.3)]. The questionnaire response rate was 56%. 83% reported intention to continue pump therapy, however 58% of these families did not have avenue to acquire private health insurance. Families expressed inability to procure private health insurance due to low income and unreliable employment and remained largely unsure about the pathway to obtain the next pump.DiscussionChildren with T1D who commenced insulin pump therapy on subsidised pathways maintained glycaemic control for two years, and families favored pumps as a management option. However, financial limitations persist as a significant barrier to procure and continue pump therapy. Pathways for access need to be assessed and advocated.

In the interest of preserving residual insulin secretory capacity present at the time of diagnosis with type 1 diabetes (T1D), we compared the efficacy of starting insulin pump therapy at diagnosis with standard multiple daily insulin injections (MDIs). We conducted a prospective, randomized, pilot trial comparing MDI therapy with continuous subcutaneous insulin therapy (pump therapy) in 24 patients, 8-18 years old, with newly diagnosed T1D. Subjects were evaluated at enrollment and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after initial diagnosis of T1D. Preservation of insulin secretion, measured by mixed-meal-stimulated C-peptide secretion, was compared after 6 and 12 months of treatment. Between-group differences in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), continuous glucose sensor data, insulin utilization, anthropometric measures, and patient satisfaction with therapy were also compared at multiple time points. Initiation of pump therapy within 1 month of diagnosis resulted in consistently higher mixed-meal tolerance test-stimulated C-peptide values at all time points, although these differences were not statistically significant. Nonetheless, improved glycemic control was observed in insulin pump-treated subjects (more time spent with normoglycemia, better mean HbA1c), and pump-treated subjects reported comparatively greater satisfaction with route of treatment administration. Initiation of insulin pump therapy at diagnosis improved glycemic control, was well tolerated, and contributed to improved patient satisfaction with treatment. This study also suggests that earlier use of pump therapy might help to preserve residual β-cell function, although a larger clinical trial would be required to confirm this.

PurposeDespite the prevalent use of insulin pump therapy worldwide, few studies have been conducted among young patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Korea. We investigated the durability and effectiveness of insulin pump therapy among Korean pediatric and young adult patients with T1D.MethodsThis study included 54 patients with T1D diagnosed at pediatric ages (range, 1.1–14.1 years) who initiated insulin pump therapy during 2016–2019 at Seoul National University Children's Hospital and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Clinical and biochemical data, including anthropometric measurements, insulin dose, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were obtained from T1D diagnosis to last follow-up.ResultsForty-four patients (81.5%) continued insulin pump therapy with a median pump use duration of 2.9 years (range, 0.2–3.5 years); 10 discontinued the therapy within 12 months (<1 month, n=6; 1–6 months, n=1; and 6–12 months, n=3) due to physical interferences or financial problems. Older age (≥10 years of age) and longer diabetes duration (≥2 years) at the initiation of pump therapy were associated with discontinuation (P<0.05 for both). For patients continuing pump therapy, HbA1c levels significantly decreased after 1 year of therapy (from 8.9% to 8.1%, P<0.001) without changes in the body mass index z-scores or insulin dose. Although 4 patients experienced diabetic ketoacidosis, all recovered without complications.ConclusionsInsulin pump therapy was effective in improving glycemic control in T1D patients during 12 months of treatment. Early initiation of insulin pump therapy after T1D diagnosis was helpful for continuing therapy.

Insulin Pumps

Individuals whose diabetes is being treated in the outpatient setting via an insulin pump often wish to maintain this therapy during hospitalization. The authors propose guidelines for management of patients on insulin pumps who require a hospital admission. A collaborative interinstitutional task force reviewed current available information regarding the use of insulin pumps in the hospital. There was little information in the medical literature on how to manage individuals on established insulin pump therapy during a hospital stay. The task force believed that a policy that promotes patient independence through continuation of insulin pump therapy while ensuring patient safety was possible. A set of contraindications for continued use of pump therapy in the hospital are proposed. A sample patient consent form and order set are presented. Finally, measures that can be used to assess effectiveness of an inpatient insulin pump policy are outlined. Patients on established insulin pump therapy do not necessarily have to discontinue treatment while hospitalized. However, clear policies and procedures should be established at the institutional level to guide continued use of the technology in the acute care setting.

Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents

Persistence with insulin pump therapy among children and young adults with type 1 diabetes in Germany: An update.

To identify determinants of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels 1 yr after the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in participants in the Pediatric Diabetes Consortium (PDC) T1D New Onset (NeOn) Study. Diabetes-specific as well as socioeconomic factors during the first year following diagnosis were analyzed in 857 participants (mean age 9.1 yrs, 51% female, 66% non-Hispanic White) not participating in an intervention study who had an HbA1c value at 12 months. Mean ± SD HbA1c at 1 yr was 62 ± 16 mmol/mol (7.8% ± 1.5). In univariate and multivariate analyses, clinical center, non-Hispanic White race, private health insurance, living with both parents, higher frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), and lower insulin requirements were associated with lower HbA1c concentrations at 1 yr (p < 0.01). No association was found with gender, age, Tanner stage, body mass index (BMI), diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at onset, number of positive autoantibodies or HbA1c at onset, or number of visits to diabetes physician during the first year. White race, higher socioeconomic status, two-parent household, more frequent SMBG, and low insulin requirements are associated with lower HbA1c concentration 1 yr after the onset of T1D in children.

Objectives: The healthcare utilization benefits associated with insulin pump therapy compared to multiple daily injections (MDI) therapy are not well known. This study sought to compare the impact of using a durable insulin pump versus MDI therapy on healthcare utilization and A1C among individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods: This population-based, longitudinal analysis used a large repository of healthcare claims data to compare diabetes-related and all-cause inpatient admissions (IP) and emergency room (ER) visits in individuals with T1D using durable pumps (N=1,286) versus MDI (N=3,854). The study period was June 1, 2017 to July 31, 2019. The study index date was assigned to the first date of pump use in the pump cohort and a random index date was assigned to the MDI cohort. Continuous insurance enrollment 1-year before and 1-year after adoption/index date was required. Generalized linear model regression was used to test the difference-in-difference effect of therapy type on rates of utilization and A1C. The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Prevention Quality Indicator (PQI) algorithm was used to define diabetes-related utilization. Results: Individuals on insulin pump therapy had a significant decrease in IP utilization compared to little change among individuals using MDI therapy (-41% vs. +3%, p=0.01), and similar decreases in ER utilization (-27% vs. -16%, p=0.64). Combining diabetes-related IP and ER utilization, individuals on insulin pump therapy experienced a decrease of 34% compared to decrease of 8% among those using MDI therapy (p= 0.02). Individuals on insulin pump therapy also experienced a larger decrease in A1C (-7% vs. -1%, p=&amp;lt;0.0001). Conclusions: Compared to MDI therapy, use of a durable insulin pump associated with a significantly smaller increase in diabetes-related healthcare utilization and A1C over time. Disclosure M. Shah: Employee; Self; Medtronic. C. Zhu: Employee; Self; Medtronic. K. Wherry: Employee; Self; Medtronic.

Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (Insulin Pump) Therapy can be Safely Used in the Hospital in Select Patients

Introduction The advanced bolus options improve glycemic control of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) on insulin pump (IP) therapy. This is extremely important for the patients who do not use CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) regularly. Objective To compare the difference in the parameters of glycemic control (HbA1c, postprandial increase of blood glucose and number of hypoglycemic episodes per week) between the group of patients who use bolus calculator for <50% of the total daily boluses and the group the patients who use bolus calculator for ≥50% of total daily boluses. Patients and methods The study included 41 patients aged over 18 years with T1D on IP therapy in Republika of Srpska. All patients used IP for at least one year prior to participation in the study. Before the IP therapy was initiated, all the patients were trained for carbohydrate counting in course of flexible insulin therapy training (FIT). Professional software, CareLink Pro® Software (Medtronic Inc., Northridge, CA, USA) was used to download data from insulin pumps to a personal computer. The default frequency of bolus calculator use was ≥50% of total daily boluses. Results No statistically significant difference was found in HbA1c (6.61 ± 1.10 vs. 6.77 ± 0.97, p = 0.624) or the number of hypoglycemic episodes (2.00 (1.00, 4.00) (1.0–6.0) versus 3.00 (2.00, 3.50) (1.0–5.0), p = 0.322) between the group of patients who have used bolus calculator for <50% of the total daily boluses and the group of patients who used bolus calculator for ≥50% of total daily boluses. Patients who have used bolus calculator had significantly lower postprandial increase in blood glucose after breakfast. Conclusion Among the patients with T1D on IP therapy, who do not regularly use CGM the use of the bolus calculator and use of different types of boluses, can improve glycemic control on IP therapy.

Body Mass Index at the Time of Diagnosis of Autoimmune Type 1 Diabetes in Children

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in youth is recognized as a pediatric disease, but few reports describe the characteristics during diagnosis. We describe the clinical presentation of 503 youth with T2D. The Pediatric Diabetes Consortium (PDC) T2D Clinic Registry enrolled T2D participants from eight pediatric diabetes centers in the USA. Clinical and laboratory characteristics at the time of diagnosis were analyzed. In total 67% presented with symptoms of diabetes and confirming laboratory data, but 33% were identified by testing at risk children, 11% presented with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and 2% with hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS). The mean age was 13.1 ± 2.3 yr (range, 4.6-19.8 yr) with 38 (8%) less than 10 yr of age at diagnosis. The majority was female (65%), Hispanic (54%) and had a family history of T2D (92%). The median body mass index (BMI) z-score was 2.3 (interquartile range 2.0-2.6). Fewer than half (46%) lived with both parents, only 30% had parents with education beyond high school, and 43% lived in a household with an income of <$25 000 per year. In the initial month after diagnosis, almost all (92%) were treated with insulin (30%), metformin (31%), or a combination of insulin and metformin (32%); 7% were treated with lifestyle modification alone. The demographics of T2D in youth indicate significant social vulnerability which may affect outcomes. Metformin and insulin were the initial treatment in most youth. Importantly, T2D may occur at younger ages than previously thought and should be considered in all high-risk children presenting with diabetes.